The Naples-Bari route represents one of the first examples in which design in BIM involved the entire rail route, necessitating important coordination among the various software programs that manage the different modelling of the works (linear and localised) so that the different specialised contributions are correctly merged into the overall assembled model.

The development in BIM of the new HS line started in 2014 with the drafting of the final design by Italferr and now concerns 3 different rail sections: Apice Hirpinia, Hirpinia-Orsara and Orsara-Bovino.

The new HS line is configured as one of the first projects in which the Contractor is required to use the BIM method for the development of the subsequent design and as-built phases. Among the activities, Italferr was responsible for defining the Information Specifications that govern the entire process. The models of the works in BIM developed are subjected to a process of executive design verification by Italferr, which verifies the correctness of the technical solution and compliance with the information requirements indicated in the tender.

Already at the design verification stage, state-of-the-art digital tools are being used that, by exploiting the Data Sharing Environment employed for the activities, allow information models to be federated with each other and enable collaborative functions of the verification team as well as the extraction and publication of information contained therein in the form of dashboards.

The use of digital platforms, anticipated as early as the executive, detailed and as-built design verification phases, lays the groundwork for potentially evolving BIM design models into the digital twin to support the infrastructure's operation and maintenance phase.