Completion of works expected in 2026 and 292 million euros of investment.
These are the numbers presented by Umberto De Gregorio, president of the Campania regional holding company for local public transport, Ente Autonomo Volturno, and by the top management of Alstom, the multinational that will have the arduous task of modernizing the Campania railway line that connects the regional capital with the hinterland.
This is a “necessary” operation, according to De Gregorio, to guarantee the survival of the Circumvesuviana. Modernization works that are in addition to the modernization of the fleet with 40 new trains already under construction and 60 subject to a new tender.
“Putting modern trains on an old infrastructure would make no sense”, underlines De Gregorio who also focused on the problem linked to the archaeological sites which in this territory are the reality of every excavation.
“We need to respect the past and archaeology - remember - but there is also the need to move forward to modernize and make the Vesuviana survive. It is necessary to balance both needs".
Specifically, the signage will be completely redone, some tunnels that are in poor condition will be worked on and the Seiano bridge will be revisited. The works will also involve a series of infrastructures that, in particular on the stretch between Castellammare di Stabia and Sorrento, will allow the frequency of trains to be doubled, bringing it to one every 12 minutes.
According to the program, they will be carried out during regular operations, at night and, therefore, without interrupting the service.
Alstom, leader of the Temporary Business Association (ATI), composed of Consorzio Integra, Icop, Euroferroviaria, with the Temporary Grouping Systra Sotecni, SWS Engineering and Alstom as the indicated designer, will supply a new signalling system on all of Eav's Vesuvian lines.
The contract stipulated between the Group and the Ente Autonomo Volturno Srl, public transport operator of the Campania Region, has a value of 292 million euros and includes the construction, on over 140 km of the Vesuvian lines, of an innovative signalling system with ACCM and ERTMS solutions, the most advanced system for the supervision and control of train movement available today.
Furthermore, the adaptation of the railway and technological systems and of the infrastructural works (stations, tunnels, works of art) for the Castellammare-Sorrento route is planned, allowing a maximum traffic capacity of one train every twelve minutes.
The project also includes an Alstom solution for Electrical Substations that saves energy and costs by reintroducing into the electricity grid over 99% of the energy generated by the braking of rolling stock. The works will be completed by June 2026 and will be carried out only at night and therefore without any interruption of service for users.
“Alstom is pleased to support EAV in improving the railway infrastructure of the Vesuvian lines, providing intelligent and sustainable mobility solutions for the benefit of passengers. – says Michele Viale, general manager of Alstom Italia and president and CEO of Alstom Ferroviaria, in a note – The ERTMS system is the most recent and advanced railway traffic management system in Europe, a major industrial project that will improve mobility in the Naples area and increase train regularity and network capacity on over 140 km of the Castellammare-Sorrento line.”
Three of the planned interventions have been entrusted with the competitive dialogue procedure to the Rti agent Alstom, signatory with Eav of the procurement contract for a value of approximately 300M – and which will allow, together with the purchase of the new trains, to completely revolutionize the Circumvesuviana and in particular the travel times of the Naples-Sorrento line.
Article published on March 2, 2023 - 17pm
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