The TBM was unveiled at the Changsha facilities of China Railway Construction Heavy Industry (CRCHI). The two TBMs will be shipped to Sicily and should arrive in the next two months.
Lot 4B, which extends between the New Enna and Dittaino station of the Palermo-Catania railway, is part of the larger project of upgrading the Palermo-Catania railway line. Lot 4B includes the construction of 15km of new railway, 8.5km of which will pass through three tunnels, and another 2km across five viaducts. The contract also involves the construction of a train station at Enna and upgrading the one at Dittaino.
Webuild and its consortium partner Pizzarotti were awarded the €616m contract in October 2022.
The consortium’s bid made the circular economy a key feature, including reuse of 99% of the earth excavated, the recovery and reuse of rain and industrial water, energy efficiency and the use of solar panels.
Webuild leads the consortium with a 70% stake.
Commissioned by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, the contract will be financed from Italy’s National Plan for Recovery and Resilience.
