The new Terzo Valico line is primarily intended to improve connections between the Ligurian port system and the main railway lines of northern Italy and the rest of Europe, in line with the strategies set out in the EU White Paper on Transport: i.e. to shift 30% of freight traffic over 300 km from road to rail by 2030, and 50% by 2050, with benefits for the environment, safety and the economy.
A key part of the North Sea – Rhine – Mediterranean European Transport Corridor – Europe’s most important north-south transport axis, carrying the largest volume of goods in Europe and passing through the most industrialised countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Italy), linking the Mediterranean with the North Sea, and the ports of the Upper Tyrrhenian Sea with those of Northern Europe – the Terzo Valico will enable the current obstacles to the development of rail transport between Genoa, Milan and Turin to be overcome.
The two existing railway lines do not meet European technical standards, which limits the ability to run large and heavy freight trains between the port of Genoa and northern Europe. These are lines whose performance characteristics are directly linked to the construction standards of the period when they were built: the “Giovi Line”, completed in the mid-19th century, has a gradient of 3.5 per thousand, is highly winding, and is used exclusively for local passenger traffic and, to a lesser extent, for freight traffic; the “Succursale dei Giovi” line, completed in the early 20th century, has a gradient of 17 per thousand and is also used by long-distance passenger traffic.
The new infrastructure will have technical specifications – in particular gradients and gauge (the width of the tunnel cross-section) – designed to allow the passage of long and heavy freight trains, including both those carrying semi-trailers and lorries (Rolling Highway) and those carrying High-Cube containers. The Terzo Valico will also be used by long-distance passenger trains, thereby reducing journey times between Genoa and Milan and between Genoa and Turin.
The project has received partial public funding, including NRRP funds.
Calogero Mauceri was appointed Extraordinary Government Commissioner for the completion of the works.
The Track
Stretching 53 km in length, 70% of which through tunnels, the new line passes through 14 municipalities in the provinces of Genoa and Alessandria and connects to the south – via the Voltri and Bivio junctions – to the railway facilities of the Genoa junction as well as to the port basins of Voltri and the Historic Port of Genoa and, from the Novi Ligure plain, to the existing Genoa – Turin lines (for traffic towards Turin and Novara – Sempione) and to the Tortona – Piacenza line (for traffic towards Milan – San Gottardo).
From the Fegino junction to the Novi plain, with the exception of a short open-air section in the municipality of Arquata Scrivia near Libarna, the new line runs through three natural tunnels (Valico Tunnel, Serravalle Tunnel and Campasso Tunnel) before running in the open until the artificial tunnel at Pozzolo and then continuing, once again in the open, until it joins the existing Pozzolo – Tortona line (route to Milan). Inside the Serravalle Tunnel, the Novi Ligure interconnections branch off to provide the connection to and from Turin on the existing Genoa – Turin line. On the Genoa side, within the Valico tunnel, the Voltri junctions branch off, providing a direct link between the Terzo Valico and the Voltri bypass, and thus to the port of Voltri and the Genoa – Ventimiglia line.
The Valico Tunnel, which is approximately 27 km long, features four intermediate access points for both construction and safety reasons. In line with the most advanced safety standards, the tunnel sections will largely consist of two single-track tunnels running side by side, connected by cross-passages every 500 metres so that each can serve as a safety tunnel for the other.
Operations on the Genoa Junction
Under Law 55/19 (“Sblocca Cantieri”), the works at the Genoa Junction relating to the Voltri-Brignole infrastructure upgrade and the to last mile between the Terzo Valico and the Port of Genoa have been consolidated into a single project with the Terzo Valico.
The completion of the works at the Genoa Junction will increase the capacity of the lines at the junction, with the potential to boost passenger and freight volumes by separating regional and metropolitan train services from long-distance and freight services, as well as connecting the final section of the Terzo Valico dei Giovi with the Port of Prà–Voltri and the historic port of Genoa.
The Voltri–Brignole Infrastructure Upgrade Project comprises two main works: the “six-track expansion between Genoa Piazza Principe and Genoa Brignole” and the “four-track expansion between Genoa Voltri and Genoa Sampierdarena”. Specifically, the former involves extending the existing C. Colombo and S. Tomaso tunnels to create a new route between Genoa Principe and Genoa Brignole, dedicated exclusively to metropolitan and regional traffic.
The second major project involves the construction of a new link between Genoa Voltri and Genoa Borzoli, from which the track branches off towards Genoa Sampierdarena and the Terzo Valico. The existing coastal route will be used by regional and metropolitan services, whilst the link will be used by long-distance and freight trains. It will also enable direct access to the Terzo Valico dei Giovi for goods originating from or destined for the Port of Prà Voltri.
