Webuild largest Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) in Europe was launched on Friday, 21 February, as excavation begins on the Saginara Tunnel along Lot 1A Battipaglia–Romagnano 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 took place in the municipality of Campagna (SA) at 11:30 AM, at the entrance of the Saginara Tunnel, in front of institutions, and 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.