The project is scheduled for completion in 2022 and will serve the new Naples Afragola station which will be an interchange between regional and high-speed services.

The project also includes the construction of the Acerra, Casalnuovo and Centro Commerciale stations, and the section will extend 15.5km across Casoria, Casalnuovo, Afragola, Caivano, and Acerra.

Once the 146.6km Naples - Bari line is completed, the Naples - Bari journey time will be reduced from 3h 45min to two hours, while the Rome - Bari trip will be cut from 3h 59min to three hours.

Tendering for the Naples - Bari project began in July 2016 and the line will cost a total of €6.2bn.

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