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 the top management of Alstom, the multinational that will have the arduous task of modernizing the Campania railway line connecting the regional capital with the hinterland.
This is a "necessary" operation, according to De Gregorio, to ensure the survival of the Circumvesuviana. The modernization work comes in addition to the fleet renewal program, with 40 new trains already under construction and 60 more being put out to 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 have respect for the past and for archaeology - remember - But there's also the need to move forward to modernize and ensure the survival of the Vesuviana. It's 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 plan, 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, and Euroferroviaria, with the designated designer being the Temporary Grouping Systra Sotecni, SWS Engineering, and Alstom, will supply a new signaling system for all of EAV's Vesuvian lines.
The contract signed between the Group and Ente Autonomo Volturno Srl, the public transport operator of the Campania Region, is worth €292 million and involves 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 operations currently available.
Furthermore, the railway and technological systems and infrastructure (stations, tunnels, and works of art) for the Castellammare-Sorrento route will be upgraded, allowing for 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 over 99% of the energy generated by braking the rolling stock into the electricity grid. The work will be completed by June 2026 and will only be carried out 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 planned projects have been awarded through a competitive dialogue procedure to the temporary consortium (RTI) representing Alstom, which signed a contract with EAV worth approximately €300 million. These projects, along with the purchase of the new trains, will completely revolutionize the Circumvesuviana line, particularly the travel times of the Naples-Sorrento line.
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