Naples-Bari HS/HC Railway | Frasso Telesino – Telese section

The project to upgrade and increase the speed of the Naples–Bari railway line, developed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), forms part of the strategic initiatives for the Scandinavian–Mediterranean TEN-T corridor and is among the priority projects of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Identified as a priority infrastructure investment under the 2014 “Sblocca Italia” [“Unlock Italy”] law and subject to compliance with the DNSH (Do No Significant Harm) principle introduced by the NRRP, the project involves our participation in three lots: Cancello-Frasso Telesino, Frasso Telesino-Telese and Telese San Lorenzo-Vitulano. The primary objective is to increase the operating speed of the existing railway line connection and improve accessibility to rail services in the areas served by the line, benefiting long-distance passenger services, regional mobility and freight transport.
 Our client, RFI, became the first organisation in Europe to achieve Platinum certification under the Envision framework for the design of the Frasso Telesino-San Lorenzo section, which encompasses two of the lots awarded to Ghella. The Envision framework is a sustainable infrastructure rating system that assesses project performance in terms of improvements to community quality of life, stakeholder engagement, responsible use of natural resources, protection of the environment and biodiversity, CO₂ emissions and infrastructure durability. These requirements were integrated into the design and procurement phases through the implementation of an Integrated Management System (IMS) which ensures the monitoring and mitigation of potential impacts associated with construction activities, as well as through the annual publication of an Ecological Footprint Report. This approach ensures compliance with, and rigorous application of, the best practices required by RFI contractual standards and DNSH principles.

Benefits:

1. Reduction in journey times between Naples and Bari by 1 hour and 40 minutes.
2. Modal shift from road to rail.
3. Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Improved access to high-speed rail services in areas at risk of depopulation.