Excavation begins on the Salerno–Reggio Calabria High-Speed/High-Capacity Line

With the launch of three TBMs, all four tunnel boring machines planned for the Lot 1A Battipaglia–Romagnano works are now operational.

Alongside Partenope, already active, Leucosia and Ligea have now joined—names chosen through a public contest. Together, they are the three largest TBMs ever used by Ghella. Mireille has also been added to the fleet.

This marks a new decisive step in enhancing infrastructure in Southern Italy: excavation has begun on three new tunnels in Lot 1A of the Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed, high-capacity railway line. The line is part of the TEN-T Scandinavian–Mediterranean Corridor and represents one of the strategic projects connecting Southern Italy with the North and the rest of Europe.

Thanks to the activation of three new TBMs (Tunnel Boring Machines), all four mechanical tunnelling systems planned for the construction of the eight natural tunnels to be excavated using mechanized methods in Lot 1A—linking Battipaglia to Romagnano—are now in operation. After the launch in recent months of TBM Partenope, which is continuing its journey to excavate the Saginara tunnel, three additional TBMs—Leucosia, Ligea, and Mireille—have now started up, supported by more than 300 specialized technicians responsible for their operation and maintenance.

With cutting heads over 13 meters in diameter, Leucosia and Ligea—together with Partenope—are the three largest TBMs ever used by Ghella. The names of these three machines recall the myth of the Sirens who lived on the rocks of the Gulf of Salerno.

Leucosia has begun drilling the Serra Lunga tunnel, which is over 800 meters long, single-bore, and designed for double track. Once excavation and lining are completed, it will go on to construct the Acerra and Petrolla tunnels, separated by line viaducts. Ligea is excavating the Piano Grasso tunnel, over 2.2 kilometers long, also single-bore and double track, and will later move on to the Contursi tunnel.

Mireille has also started work and is currently excavating the Caterina tunnel, over 1 km long, single-bore and single track. Once excavation and lining of the Caterina tunnel are completed, Mireille will proceed to excavate the Sicignano tunnel.

Work continues on Lot 1A for the construction of artificial tunnels, while in the coming weeks excavation will begin on the Cerreta natural tunnel, which will be carried out using traditional methods. Construction is also underway on the line viaducts, including the longest viaduct of the entire section, which will cross the A2 Salerno–Reggio Calabria motorway. It is made up of over 100 spans, including a railway arch bridge which, at 120 meters long, will be the longest of its type in Italy.