Arcisate, 3 August 2015
Minister for Infrastructures and Transport Graziano Delrio inspected the worksites to complete the Italian section of the Arcisate-Stabio (Switzerland) railway line today.
During this inspection - also attended by Lombardy Regional Authority President Roberto Maroni and Varese Provincial Authority President and Mayor of Cantello Nicola Gunnar Vincenzi - Gruppo FS Italiane CEO Michele Mario Elia illustrated the works (civil works, rail infrastructure installations and electric traction system) required to complete the railway connection in question and relative progress, with 45% of the infrastructural and technological works already having been completed.
This project also includes the new Gaggiolo station (in Cantello), renovation of the Induno Olona and Arcisate stations and taking the existing line between Induno Olona and Arcisate below ground.
Technical details were explained by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana CEO Maurizio Gentile.
This inspection was also attended by Mayor of Arcisate Angelo Pierobon and Mayor of Induno Olona Marco Cavallin.
Worksites shall become fully operational as of September 2015. Currently underway are operations concerning worksite and logistic reorganisation, finalising contracts with suppliers and approval for the Operational Security Plan. The new contract was awarded to SALCEF from Rome, which won the tender procedure implemented by RFI.
The time schedule set by RFI and forwarded (December 2014) to the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport, Lombardy Regional Authority and the Municipalities involved was therefore confirmed, whereby the rail works shall be completed by May 2017, all works shall be completed by September 2017 and the line shall become operational by December 2017.
The urgent works requested by Arcisate and Induno Olona to mitigate the inconvenience to inhabitants that commenced in March 2015 have been completed. More specifically, worksite barriers have been moved back, definitive fencing has been installed where possible, access to a number of homes has been restored, roads have been re-tarred and council roads providing access to the worksites have been repaired.
Additional works agreed regard transforming the railway tunnel no longer used into a cycle path and expanding and re-tarring roads and junctions.
Works shall be carried out in stages as part of completion of the Arcisate – Stabio line, which is expected to be completed by September 2017.
The new Arcisate - Stabio (Switzerland) line will connect Varese with the Ticino Canton and Como (via the Mendrisio junction) and ensure that passengers can reach the international Milan Malpensa airport from cities in central and southern Switzerland, while the junction at Gallarate will ensure connection with the Sempione (Lausanne, Geneva and Bern) and Gottardo (Bellinzona and Lugano) lines.
The overall investment entailed is around 261 million euros.