Salerno-Reggio Calabria High-Speed Line: €4.4bn
Italy invests €4.4 billion in the Salerno-Reggio Calabria high-speed rail line. RFI and Webuild lead projects transforming connectivity in southern Italy.
TrainsNews 
Salerno-Reggio Calabria High-Speed Line: Italy Invests €4.4 Billion
Updated August 19, 2025
Italy is revolutionizing its rail infrastructure with a titanic project. The Salerno-Reggio Calabria high-speed line represents one of Europe's most ambitious construction sites, mobilizing €4.4 billion in investments.
A National-Scale Project
Italian Rail Network (RFI) leads this major transformation of southern Italy. Two strategic contracts structure this megaproject:
- Paola-Cosenza section: €1.6 billion
- Battipaglia-Romagnano section: €2.8 billion
These Italian infrastructure investments aim to unlock the Mezzogiorno and create 1,500 direct jobs.
Paola-Cosenza: The Art of Underground Excavation
Webuild Consortium Leading
The Webuild group (60% stake) leads a consortium including Ghella, Pizzarotti and SELI to deliver this 22.2km section. This RFI contract worth €1.6 billion showcases Italian expertise in underground works.
Santomarco Tunnel: Technical Prowess
Key characteristics:
- Length: 15 kilometers
- Method: 4 simultaneous tunnel boring machines (TBM)
- Configuration: twin single-track tubes
- Feature: located 100m from existing decommissioned tunnel
This Italian rail infrastructure requires millimetric precision to avoid interference with existing structures.
Engineering Structures and Local Impact
The project includes:
- 9 railway bridges
- 2 major viaducts (350m over A2 motorway, 205m over Settimo stream)
- New Montalto Uffugo station serving Rende university campus
Battipaglia-Romagnano: Europe's Largest TBM
The Xenia Consortium
In 2023, RFI awarded this €2.8 billion contract to Xenia consortium (Webuild, Pizzarotti, Ghella, Tunnel Pro). This 35km section integrates unprecedented technological innovations.
European Record: The Giant TBM
The largest TBM Europe deployed on Saginara tunnel (3km) sets new standards:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 130 meters |
| Weight | 4,000 tonnes |
| Cutter head diameter | 13.5 meters |
| Status | Largest in Europe |
This exceptional machine symbolizes excellence in Webuild projects internationally.
Key Players in Transformation
RFI: Strategic Project Owner
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana coordinates these colossal investments as national infrastructure manager.
Webuild: Technology Leader
The Italian group consolidates its European reference position, participating in both major project consortiums.
Specialized Partners
- Ghella: underground works expertise
- Pizzarotti: complex structure construction
- SELI: Webuild's tunneling subsidiary
- Tunnel Pro: advanced boring technologies
Economic and Social Impact
This Italy high-speed rail generates:
- 1,500 direct construction jobs
- Thousands of indirect jobs (suppliers, subcontractors)
- Southern Italy connectivity boost
- 40% journey time reduction
Timeline and Prospects
Works span 8 years with critical phases:
- 2024-2026: main tunnel boring
- 2027-2029: finishing and equipment
- 2030-2032: testing and commissioning
Toward Better Connected Italy
This exceptional Italian rail infrastructure will permanently transform peninsular mobility. Southern Italy, long isolated, will benefit from high-performance service to Rome, Naples and Milan.
