Work has officially begun on expanding the Piazzale Tecchio workshop, a crucial hub for the arrival of the new, state-of-the-art trains destined for Line 6 of the Naples Metro . The new trains, 39 meters long and designed to travel side-by-side (thus reaching a total length of 78 meters), will replace the current LTR90 trains, which are shorter (25 meters) and less efficient.
The workshop, connected to the Mostra station, will play a strategic role in the transition phase: here the new trains will be lowered, assembled and activated while waiting for the completion of the depot planned in the Campi Flegrei railway station area. The expansion works and the construction of the new trains are entrusted to the concessionaire Hitachi, which is leading the project with the aim of modernizing and strengthening the service.
The mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, underlined the importance of the operation: "These are modern trains, much larger and capable of guaranteeing higher frequencies. After this transitional phase, we expect to have a fully operational system by 2026, which will allow us to make the most of this fundamental line and to start the extension towards Bagnoli and Posillipo".
Giuseppe Molisso, concession manager for Line 6 at Hitachi Rail, explained the technical challenges of the project: “We are in a particularly complex urban area, with a dense network of underground utilities. The first phase of the work will be dedicated to preparing the site, and then proceeding with the expansion of the slot needed to lower the new trains. Once they are definitively assembled, testing activities will begin with the ministerial commission. The goal is to complete this phase by the end of the year, with the lowering of the first train and the start of the approval procedures with the Ministry”.
The project represents a significant step towards enhancing mobility in Naples, with the aim of improving the efficiency and capacity of line 6, which is essential for connecting the city centre to the western areas. The new trains, with more capacity and technology, promise to revolutionise the travel experience for thousands of passengers, in view of further development of the metro network.
It is an important project for Naples, but I hope that the works do not create too much inconvenience for the citizens. Even if the new trains are bigger, it will take time to get used to the new things and improve the situation.