New incidents of copper thefts at the construction sites of the Bari-Naples high-speed/high-capacity line risk further compromising opening times. The latest theft has seen over a kilometer of stripped copper cables disappear, a significant damage for the construction site already hit in the past by similar incidents, such as the theft of diesel at the Sant'Agata dei Goti base camp and the tampering with construction vehicles.
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The thieves took advantage of the ease of access to the construction site areas, which are over four kilometres long and have no video surveillance, to remove entire rolls of copper. The operations are simple: just unhook the supports to take away the material.
This new obstacle adds to the difficulties of a project that aims to inaugurate the line by June 2025. The stolen copper was intended for the installation of overhead lines and underground cables, essential for the entry into service of the railway network and the start of technical tests.
Train transit tests are planned for the next few weeks
In the coming weeks, transit tests are planned on one of the two tracks, but delays caused by the thefts could compromise the schedule of activities. The episode highlights the need to strengthen security measures on construction sites to ensure the completion of a crucial infrastructure for the enhancement of the railway network in Southern Italy.
Article published on 3 January 2025 - 09:01
It is a real shame that they continue to steal copper from construction sites, this does no good to anyone. Security measures must be improved to avoid similar incidents and protect ongoing projects.