BERGAMO Electric Tramway (TEB) has signed a contract with a consortium of Impresa Milesi Geom Sergio, Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie (GCF), Škoda Transportation, and Impresa Edile Stradale Artifoni to design and build the city's second light rail line and supply its new rolling stock fleet.

Signing of the Line T2 contract marks the official start of the detailed design process for the project, which is due to be completed in November ahead of the start of construction by the end of this year. The contract with the consortium is worth €176.35m and the Line T2 is expected to enter operation in 2026. Land acquisition and utility relocation procedures are already underway.

The line will run for 11.5km from Bergamo to Villa d’Almè, initially sharing the alignment of Line T1 in Bergamo, including stops at Borgo Palazzo and San Fermo. From a new stop at Bronzetti, the line will continue on the alignment of the former Valle Brembana railway, which was closed in 1966, serving five municipalities and a total population of 240,000 people. There will be 17 stops in total: nine in Bergamo, two in Ponteranica, two in Sorisole, two in Almè, and two in Villa d’Almè.

The line will have a segregated alignment for 93% of its length, with 23 road and pedestrian level crossings. It will be entirely double track apart from through the Ramera tunnel in Ponteranica and across the Rino bridge in Villa d’Almè. The line is expected to carry 4.1-4.5 million passengers per year, with 150 daily services operating daily between 06.00 and 21.30.

The project requires a total investment of €211.5m with the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport contributing €151.5m, the Lombardy region €40m, the Municipality of Bergamo €9.5m, and other municipalities benefiting from the project €4m.

The contract was signed by by TEB CEO, Mr Gianni Scarfone, and Mr Sergio Milesi on behalf of the consortium. Photo: TEB

Škoda Transportation is responsible for the supply of 10 bi-directional 100% low-floor LRVs as well as maintenance over three years. The five-section low-floor ForCity Classic LRVs will be equipped with a collision avoidance system, the first time Škoda has deployed this technology, which will improve passenger safety. The fleet will also be fitted with remote diagnostics to enable real-time monitoring of key components, supporting maintenance.

The LRVs will operate at up to 70km/h, with maximum speed reduced to 50km/h in built-up areas between Bergamo and Ponteranica, and to15km/h over level crossings.

A new depot will be built close to the Petosino stop while the control centre will be located at Ranica, overseeing operation of both light rail lines serving Bergamo.  

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