First Lot of the Salerno–Reggio Calabria HSR Line
Europe’s largest Webuild tbm to launch on 21 February
The giant tbm will work 24/7 with a team of 100 people to manage and do maintenance on a machine with a head measuring over 13 metres in diameter and 18 motors with 10 mw of power
Linea Ferroviaria Alta Velocità Salerno-Reggio Calabria, Italia
Milan, 17 February 2025 – Webuild is set to launch its largest Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in Europe on Friday, 21 February, as excavation begins on the Saginara Tunnel along of the Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed rail line. The project is being executed by a consortium led by Webuild on behalf of RFI (Gruppo FS Italiane). The project aims at constructing 35 kilometres of new railway line between Battipaglia and Romagnano, with 20 tunnels and 19 viaducts.
The event will take place in the municipality of Campagna (SA) at 10:30 AM, at the entrance of the Saginara Tunnel (construction site Access 3A - GI07 – TBM2 excavation zone), in front of institutions, and there will be Webuild and RFI representatives.
With a cutting-head of over 13 metres in diameter, the TBM measures approximately 130 meters in length, weighs around 4,000 tons, and is powered by 18 motors delivering a combined output of 10 megawatts. This highly advanced, environmentally friendly machine will be operated and maintained by a team of over 100 specialized technicians.
There will be in total 4 TBMs on Lot 1A Battipaglia-Romagnano of the Salerno-Reggio Calabria railway line, to build 8 natural tunnels that will be excavated mechanically.
Lot 1A, awarded to the Xenia Consortium—led by Webuild (consortium leader) alongside Pizzarotti, Ghella, and Tunnel Pro—is part of the broader project to build the new Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed rail line.