(Finance) – The works are continuing at full speed Italian Railway Network (FS Italiane Group) for the construction of the new High Speed/High Capacity Line Naples – BariThe excavation of the Grottaminarda gallery (AV) on the Apice – Hirpinia lot, the first work on the Naples – Bari AV/AC route to be entirely carried out using a mechanized tunnel boring machine, the TBM Aurora. The works on the Apice – Hirpinia lot were entrusted by RFI to the Hirpinia AV Consortium (Webuild), under the Works Management of Italferrwith an investment of approximately 628 million euros.
In total, eight will be used for the entire work moles mechanicsthree of which are already operational: the TBM Aurora which has just completed the excavation of the Grottaminarda tunnel and which will now move to build the Melito Gallery; the TBM Futura that is digging the Rocchetta Galleryalways on the Apice – Hirpinia route; and finally the TBM Navycurrently engaged in the excavation of one of the two tubes of the Orsara Galleryon the Orsara – Bovino lot. Working 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the advancement phases each TBM also creates the waterproof lining of the tunnel thanks to the employment of over 100 highly specialized people.
The new line High Speed/High Capacity Naples – Bari is an integral part of the European Rail Corridor TEN-T Scandinavia – Mediterraneanand also financed with funds PNRR. With the activation of the Cancello – Frasso section planned for 2025, it will be possible to travel directly from Bari to Naples in 2h 40′; upon completion of the entire work it will be possible to travel from Bari to Naples in two hours, to Rome in three hours and from Lecce and Taranto to the Capital in four hours. The work already constitutes a driving force for development for the territory and for the creation of jobs and involves approximately seven thousand people including engineers, technicians and workers, in addition to a supply chain of two thousand companies including suppliers and subcontractors.