Project Profile: Florence High-Speed Rail Bypass

The Florence High-Speed (AV – Alta Velocità) Bypass is a strategic infrastructure initiative designed to segregate high-speed rail traffic from the conventional network in the Florence urban node. The project consists of a 7-kilometer underground double-track line and the new Firenze Belfiore high-speed station, engineered to increase network capacity, enhance service reliability, and reduce congestion on surface lines.

Technical Specifications

The core of the bypass is a set of twin-bore tunnels running approximately 20 meters below Florence’s urban core. Each 7km tunnel is being excavated using 9.5-meter diameter Earth Pressure Balance Tunnel Boring Machines (EPB TBMs), a method selected to mitigate surface-level disruption and subsidence risk. The design includes safety cross-passages every 500 meters to connect the parallel tunnels. The project involves the excavation of 1.67 million cubic meters of material, of which 1.35 million m³ is being repurposed for landscape restoration in the Santa Barbara quarry, demonstrating a commitment to circular economy principles.

The new Firenze Belfiore station serves as the project’s centerpiece. Designed by Foster + Partners, the 47,000 m² facility is a multi-level structure featuring a 450-meter-long steel and glass roof integrated with photovoltaic panels. The station is engineered for a daily capacity of 40,000 passengers and functions as a multimodal hub, with direct connections to Florence’s Line 2 tramway and local bus services, ensuring seamless urban integration.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Decongestion: By diverting high-speed trains underground, the project will fundamentally separate traffic flows, freeing up significant capacity on the existing surface network for regional and freight services.
• Multimodal Integration Hub: The Firenze Belfiore station is not merely a railway stop but a fully integrated transport hub designed to connect long-distance high-speed rail with local urban transit systems.
• Advanced Engineering & Sustainability: The project showcases best practices in urban tunneling with EPB TBMs and sets a benchmark for sustainable construction through the large-scale repurposing of excavated materials.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When will the Florence High-Speed Bypass open?

As of late 2025, construction on the Florence High-Speed Bypass and Firenze Belfiore station is actively underway. While significant progress has been made on the tunneling and station structure, an official opening date has not yet been finalized by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI). Project timelines for infrastructure of this scale are subject to complex construction milestones, with completion anticipated in the coming years.

Who is building the Florence High-Speed Bypass?

The Florence High-Speed Bypass is a project managed by the FS Italiane Group, with its engineering subsidiary, Italferr, overseeing project management and design. The primary construction work is being carried out by a consortium led by Impresa Pizzarotti and Saipem. The architectural design for the landmark Firenze Belfiore station was developed by the renowned firm Foster + Partners.