Bologna–Florence high-speed railway

The Bologna–Florence high-speed railway is a link in the Italian high-speed rail network. It is part of Corridor 1 of the European Union's Trans-European high-speed rail network, which connects Berlin and Palermo. Full commercial operations commenced on 5 December 2009. High-speed passenger trains take 37 minutes over the route compared to about 59 minutes previously.[2]

Bologna–Florence high-speed railway
Overview
SystemItalian high-speed rail system
StatusOperational
LocaleItaly
Operation
OwnerRete Ferroviaria Italiana
Route map
High-speed line from Milan
91.478
Bologna Centrale
(underground level)
line to Portomaggiore
Bologna belt railway
line to Florence (traditional)
(6.433)
 Bologna San Ruffillo
(5.205)
line to Florence (traditional)
84.031
 Bologna Passante tunnel
(exit)
83.763
 Pianoro tunnel
(10,481 m)
(4.724)
 Connecting tunnel*
(4.527)
signaling border
(0.206)
 *
(0.206)
Pianoro tunnel
(entrance to connecting tunnel)
(0.000)
78.487
 Emilia junction
72.920
 Pianoro tunnel
(exit)
72.220
 Sadurano tunnel
(3,855 m)
68.352
68.290
 Monte Bibele tunnel
(9,243 m)
60.166
 Idice crossover
59.047
52.920
 Raticosa tunnel
(10,450 m)
48.341
48.268
 Scheggianico tunnel
(3,558 m)
44.712
44.445
 Firenzuola tunnel
(15,285 m)
43.834
 San Pellegrino crossover
29.165
28.948
 Borgo Rinzelli tunnel
(717 m)
28.231
27.323
 Morticine tunnel
(654 m)
26.630
24.192
 San Piero a Sieve crossover
29.165
 Vaglia tunnel
(18,713 m)
5.611
Signaling boundary
5.442
old line from Bologna
from Viareggio
5.372
 Firenze Castello
To Pisa
2.766
 Firenze Rifredi
to Faenza and Rome
(traditional and high-speed)
0.000
 Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Source: Italian railway atlas[1]

The line's northern end is at Bologna Centrale railway station and it connects with the Milan–Bologna high-speed line and lines to Venice (Padua-Bologna railway) and Verona (Verona-Bologna railway), respectively. Its southern end is at Firenze Santa Maria Novella railway station and it connects with the Florence–Rome high-speed line. It is used by high-speed passenger trains, while some goods trains will continue to use the old Bologna–Florence railway, completed in 1934 and known as the Direttissima.

The line is 78.5 km long and includes 73.8 km of tunnels, 3.6 km on embankment or in cutting and 1.1 km on viaduct.[3] From Bologna to Florence, the tunnels are:[2]

  • Pianoro, 10,841 m
  • Sadurano, 3,855 m
  • Monte Bibele, 9,243 m
  • Raticosa, 10,450 m
  • Scheggianico, 3,558 m
  • Firenzuola, 15,285 m
  • Borgo Rinzelli, 717 m
  • Morticine, 654 m
  • Vaglia, 18,713 m

Maximum rock coverage over tunnels is about 600 to 700 m. All tunnels are double track. Each tunnel has an intermediate access from the surface about every 5 km, except the Vaglia tunnel, which instead has a parallel service tunnel for about half of its length.

The construction of the line, including electrification, was completed in 2008 and testing of the line commenced in December 2008. The line was handed over to the rail network on 30 June 2009. The first commercial service occurred on 4 December 2009 and it was officially opened next day.[4]

The line was estimated to cost €1 billion (1991 values in lire converted to euros), but ended up costing €5.2 billion (€67 million per km).[3]

References
  1. Atlante ferroviario s'Italia e Slovenia [Italian and Slovenian railway atlas)] (1 ed.). Schweers + Wall. 2010. pp. 48, 52, 144, 145. ISBN 978-3-89494-129-1.
  2. "The new high speed Bologna–Florence line" (PDF). Treno Alta Velocità. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  3. "Bologne–Firenze HSL opens". Today's Railways Europe. March 2010: 36–39. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. "Milano–Novara and Bologna–Firenze HSLs open". Today's Railways Europe. February 2010: 12. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

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