MILAN (AP) — A hydraulic rock drill successfully opened a tunnel linking Austria and Italy 1,400 meters (nearly 4,600 feet) under the Alps on Thursday, representing a significant achievement in a set of large-scale European Union initiatives aimed at speeding up passenger train travel between major cities and moving freight from roads to rail networks.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker attended the symbolic breaking through of the last meter of rock that opened the first tunnel under the Brenner Pass, a crucial point in an EU rail initiative set to eventually connect Helsinki with Palermo. Train services are expected to start in 2032.
At the ceremony, Meloni stated, ‘In the end, there is no project too large to be addressed, no project too big for us to take a chance on.’
The Brenner Base Tunnel, set to become the longest subterranean railway tunnel globally upon completion, is one of four major infrastructure initiatives expected to transform how Italians commute and transport merchandise by the early 2030s, simultaneously strengthening Europe’s connectivity.
Tunnels will reduce the travel time between Verona and Munich by over half to 2.5 hours, betweenMilan and Parisreduced by at least 30% to 4.5 hours, making the Ligurian port city of Genoa accessible within commuting distance of Italy’s financial and fashion capital — greatly reshaping the European transportation map.
The most daring and controversial initiatives of all, the recently approvedStraits of Messina Bridge, will ultimately connect the Italian mainland with Sicily, a connection initially proposed by the ancient Romans and consistently postponed by modern Italians.
“The difficulty of construction provides immense fulfillment regarding what can be accomplished. It transforms people’s lives,” stated Pietro Salini, the CEO of the Italian construction company Webuild, which plays a leading role in all four projects.
The tunnel and bridge initiatives represent the first major enhancement to Italy’s railway network since the opening of the Rome-Milan high-speed rail line in 2008. It significantly cut down travel time between Italy’s political and economic hubs, ultimately ending the previously profitable Rome-Milan air route. The train journey can now be completed in as little as three hours.
Current initiatives also seek to decrease truck traffic on highways — with the most significant effect anticipated on the Brenner Pass, which is used by over 2.5 million trucks every year, making it one of Europe’s most heavily traveled Alpine corridors and a key north-south connection. Over 700 billion euros ($824 billion) worth of goods pass through it annually, as stated by Diego Catoni, CEO of the Brenner Highway, serving as a major Italian export route that transports automotive parts and small machinery northward.
Officials also highlighted the ecological advantages during the ceremony on Thursday.
Reducing traffic congestion will lead to better air quality, less noise, and lower CO2 emissions, according to Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the European Commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism.
These are part of over 40 strategic initiatives managed by Italy’s railway system, with many receiving financial support from 25 billion euros (approximately $30 billion) in European Union recovery funds aimed at addressing the pandemic’s impact. Among them is a high-speed rail line connecting Naples and Bari, located on the heel of Italy’s boot-shaped peninsula.
Here are four significant infrastructure initiatives designed to connect Italian and European hubs more closely:
Brenner Base tunnel
The Brenner Base Tunnel, set to become the longest subterranean railway passage globally, will span 55 kilometers (34 miles) from Tulfes, Austria, to Fortezza, Italy, and extend to 64 kilometers (almost 40 miles) when combined with existing tunnels from Tulfes to Innsbruck.
The initiative, projected to cost approximately 8.8 billion euros (around $10.5 billion), is set to finish by 2031, with the initial train service starting in 2032. This project, initiated in 2007, is supported financially by Italy, Austria, and the European Union.
Tortona-Genoa high-speed rail line
A 53-kilometer (33-mile) high-speed railway that connects the coastal city of Genoa to Tortona in Piedmont, and links to Milan, features 37 kilometers (23 kilometers) of tunnels.
One of the routes extends for 27 kilometers (over 16½ miles). Its goal is to transition the movement of cargo from the Ligurian port cities of Genoa, La Spezia, and Savona to northern Europe from road transport to rail starting next year, with the target of reaching 50% by 2050.
The time required for passenger train travel between Milan and Genoa will be reduced to approximately one hour, down from over an hour and a half. The project costs 8.5 billion euros ($10 billion), with the tunnels being 90% finished. Initiated in 2012, the project faced delays due to the challenging geology of the Apennine mountains, including the presence of natural asbestos.
Lyon-Turin line
A 11-billion-euro ($13 billion) high-speed rail tunnel connecting Lyon and Turin spans over 65 kilometers (40 miles), with 57½ kilometers (approximately 36 miles) of the Mont Cenis base tunnel running beneath the surface between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in France and Susa in Italy.
The initiative seeks to take over 1 million large trucks off the roads in the western Alps, spanning France and Italy. Commuting time for passengers between Paris, the second-largest metropolitan region in Europe, and Milan, the third-largest metropolitan area in Europe, will be cut down to 4.5 hours from the current 6.5 to 7.5 hours.
The initiative, which began in 2007, faced major delays due to environmental protests in Italy, and is now anticipated to finish between 2032 and 2033. It is being jointly supported by France, Italy, and the European Union.
Strait of Messina Bridge
The $16 billion (13.5 billion euros) Messina Strait Bridge initiative aims to enhance transportation between mainland Italy and Sicily, including rail links to Palermo and Catania, which are currently under improvement.
A one-span bridge will stretch from Messina, Sicily, to Villa San Giovanni, Calabria, featuring six lanes for vehicles and two tracks for trains. The government is waiting for the court of audits to give final approval before starting initial construction. It is anticipated that the project will be finished by 2032.
