Mechanised excavation accelerates Battipaglia–Romagnano rail section with Four Active TBMs

All four tunnel boring machines planned for Lot 1A of the Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed and high-capacity railway are now fully operational, marking a critical construction milestone in Southern Italy. The Battipaglia–Romagnano section, delivered by a Webuild-led consortium, forms part of the TEN-T Scandinavian–Mediterranean Corridor and will deliver 35 km of new railway infrastructure. The works include 20 tunnels and 19 viaducts, reflecting the complex geological and topographical conditions of the region.

TBMs Partenope, Leucosia, Ligea and Mireille are collectively excavating eight natural tunnels. With cutterhead diameters exceeding 13 m, Partenope, Leucosia and Ligea rank among the largest TBMs currently operating in Europe. Their deployment enables single-bore tunnels accommodating double-track railway alignment, optimising constructability and long-term operational performance.

The tunnel drives traverse heterogeneous ground conditions typical of the Apennine margin, requiring adaptable excavation strategies and robust lining systems. Mechanised tunnelling is complemented by traditional excavation methods, with the Cerreta tunnel scheduled to commence using conventional techniques. Mireille, a refurbished TBM previously used on the Grand Paris Express, demonstrates the increasing role of circular economy principles in major underground works.

In parallel, extensive viaduct construction is underway, including the route’s longest structure crossing the A2 Salerno–Reggio Calabria motorway. This viaduct comprises more than 100 spans and incorporates a 120 m railway arch bridge, the longest of its type in Italy, demanding careful foundation design and ground–structure interaction assessment.

Lot 1A represents a substantial step toward upgrading rail connectivity between Southern Italy and the wider European network. The scale of mechanised tunnelling, combined with complex geotechnical conditions and major bridge works, positions the project as a benchmark for large-scale underground and linear infrastructure delivery in challenging terrain.