ITALIAN infrastructure manager RFI has awarded the Iricav Due consortium a €1.82bn contract to undertake the design and construction of the section through Vicenza of the new high-speed/high-capacity line between Verona and Padua.
The consortium is led by WeBuild, which holds an 82.95% stake, and includes Hitachi Rail with a 17.05% stake. Lamaro Appalti and Fintecna are minority partners. The Verona - Padua line forms part of the Milan - Venice high-speed/high-capacity corridor.
The section awarded to the Iricav Due consortium runs for 6.2km from the town of Altavilla Vicentina to the Vicenza station. It will also include the renewal of 4.8km of the existing line. This will allow for an increase in high-speed, regional and freight services along the Milan - Venice line, increasing capacity and service punctuality, reducing journey times and increasing service frequency.
The 76.4km Verona - Padua line is divided into three lots. Work on the first 44.2km section between Verona and Bivio Vicenza began in 2020 and is now 35% complete. Work on the second lot through Vicenza will now begin, while the third lot for the final 26km section is in the final design phase.
Webuild is overseeing design, monitoring environmental impact, and is responsible for civil works on all lots.
Hitachi Rail will install ERTMS Level 2 on the new line. The supplier and its predecessors have installed the signalling on all the high-speed/high-capacity lines currently in service in Italy.
When the Verona - Padua line is completed it will form part of the Mediterranean Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
For detailed data on rail projects around the world, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
