Italy: €1.6 Billion Contract Awarded for High-Speed Rail Construction

The Webuild Group, in consortium with Ghella, Pizzarotti and SELI, has been awarded a 1.6 billion EUR contract for the Paola–Cosenza section of the Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed rail line in Italy.

Webuild holds a 60% share of the contract, which has been commissioned by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), part of the FS Italiane Group.

The project involves doubling 22.2 kilometres of railway, most of it underground, including construction of the new Santomarco Tunnel. At more than 15 kilometres in length, the twin-tube tunnel will run roughly 100 metres from the existing single-track tunnel, which will be decommissioned when works are complete. Excavation will employ four tunnel boring machines.

The section will cross the Province of Cosenza, through the municipalities of Paola, San Lucido, Rende, Montalto Uffugo, San Vincenzo la Costa and San Fili. It includes nine railway bridges and two viaducts. One viaduct, 350 metres long, will span the A2 motorway, while another, 205 metres long, will cross the Settimo stream. A new station will also be constructed at Montalto Uffugo to serve the surrounding area and the university campus in Rende.

The works will enhance connectivity between the Tyrrhenian coast and inland Calabria, improve access to Cosenza, and strengthen the Bari–Taranto–Gioia Tauro freight route. The scheme is expected to employ up to 1,500 people.