Webuild Completes 1-Kilometer Caterina Tunnel Salerno–Reggio Calabria HSR

Q: What is notable about the TBM used for the Caterina Tunnel?

The TBM, named Mireille, is a 1,200-ton machine refurbished at a Webuild facility and previously used on the Grand Paris Express project. This highlights a circular-economy approach to heavy machinery.

Webuild completed 1-kilometer Caterina Tunnel excavation on Italy’s strategic Salerno–Reggio Calabria HSR, first on Lot 1A.

Webuild Completes 1-Kilometer Caterina Tunnel Salerno–Reggio Calabria HSR

April 18, 2026 7:18 pm | Last Update: April 18, 2026 7:19 pm

⚡ In Brief: Webuild has completed excavation of the 1-kilometer Caterina Tunnel on Italy’s Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed rail line, marking the first tunnel completed on Lot 1A of the strategic infrastructure project connecting southern and northern Italy.

SALERNO, ITALY – The construction consortium led by Webuild has finished excavating the Caterina Tunnel, a major milestone for the new Salerno–Reggio Calabria high-speed/high-capacity railway. The tunnel, over one kilometer long, was bored using the refurbished Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) Mireille. The project is part of a contract with Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) to develop a strategic European transport corridor.

What Is the Full Scope of This Project?

This milestone is part of Lot 1A, a 35-kilometer section of the new line between Battipaglia and Romagnano. The full scope for Lot 1A, managed by the Xenia consortium, includes building 20 tunnels and 19 viaducts. Four TBMs are being used for the project’s eight machine-bored tunnels, with the remaining 12 being excavated using traditional methods.

Key Project Data

Parameter	Value
Project / Contract Name	Salerno–Reggio Calabria HSR/HC Line (Lot 1A)
Total Value	Not disclosed for Lot 1A; Webuild’s 21 projects in Southern Italy total over €16 billion.
Parties Involved	Client: RFI (FS Italiane Group); Consortium: Xenia (Webuild, Pizzarotti, Ghella, Tunnel Pro)
Timeline / Completion	Not disclosed for overall project completion.
Country / Corridor	Italy / TEN-T Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor

How Does This Compare to Similar Projects?

The pace of tunnel boring on major European rail projects varies significantly based on geology and project strategy. While Webuild has completed its first tunnel on Lot 1A, the first completed tunnel on the UK’s comparable East West Rail (EWR) project is not anticipated until the mid to late 2030s. The EWR project has adopted a strategy of opening sections as they are completed rather than waiting for the entire line to be finished. (Source: Construction News, 2026).

Editor’s Analysis

The progress on the Salerno–Reggio Calabria line underscores Italy’s commitment to upgrading its southern infrastructure to align with European TEN-T corridor goals, potentially boosting economic integration and tourism to regions like Sicily. However, this strategic investment drive faces potential headwinds from the country’s macroeconomic climate. Projections of a rising government deficit could lead to future constraints on public spending, creating uncertainty for long-term funding of capital-intensive projects like this. (Source: Reuters, 2026).

FAQ

Q: What is notable about the TBM used for the Caterina Tunnel?
A: The TBM, named Mireille, is a 1,200-ton machine that was refurbished at a Webuild facility in Italy. It was previously used on the Grand Paris Express project in France, highlighting a circular-economy approach to heavy machinery.

Q: How many people are working on this section of the project?
A: Lot 1A currently employs over 1,400 people, including direct staff and subcontractors. The project also engages a supply chain of more than 500 companies.

Q: What is the overall goal of the Salerno–Reggio Calabria line?
A: The primary goal is to provide high-speed and high-capacity rail service to Southern Italy, integrating it more effectively with the rest of the country and the European TEN-T network’s Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor.