16:30 - 17:30 Refreshments and poster session
17:30 - 18:45 Lecture
The development of high-speed rail in Italy progressed along its main north–south axis, from Turin to Salerno, between 1990 and 2010, with the Florence–Rome section having been started earlier and completed first, in the early 1990s.Over 1,000 km – often referred to as the “Metropolitana d’Italia” – have contributed to shortening the perceived distance between major cities by significantly reducing travel times and transforming the travel habits of millions of passengers.These sections are now being complemented by new lines currently under advanced construction:eastwards (Milan–Verona–Padua), towards the Ligurian Sea (Milan–Genoa), and in central-southern Italy (Naples–Bari), which will bring the overall high-speed network to approximately 1,500 km.Design choices for crossing both large urban areas and mountainous terrain have frequently relied on extensive tunnelling works, which account for over 20% of the total length of the network. Monitoring data collected during tunnel excavation – both with TBMs and conventional methods – and during operation - both tunnels and bridges - will be presented, providing insights into the impact of excavation techniques and structural design choices. The evolution of tunnel configuration design – comparing double-track tunnels and twin single-track bores – will also be reviewed, highlighting how project solutions have evolved over time in response to European railway tunnel safetyregulations. These considerations have led to a redefinition of design approaches for the planned and partly ongoing extension of the high-speed rail network towards southern Italy.
