Work on the upgrading of the Orte-Falconara rail line is continuing at a fast pace. On 30 October 2025, an important milestone was reached with the demolition of the diaphragm of the “La Rossa” tunnel, in the municipality of Genga (AN), as part of the doubling of the Genga-Serra San Quirico section (Lot 2 'PM228-Castelplanio'), financed primarily with funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).
The completion of the excavation, at 7.30 p.m., using tunnelling machines, opened the passage between the two ends of the 1,196-metre-long tunnel, using conventional tunnelling methods, with the use of explosives, proceeding at an average rate of approximately 10 metres per day, exceeding the initial forecasts.
Italferr, the engineering company of the FS Italiane Group, played a central and strategic role in the implementation of the project. From design to construction site supervision, the company provided constant technical oversight, ensuring the application of high quality standards and compliance with the planned schedule. Working in close partnership with the client RFI, the company coordinated the operational activities, contributing decisively to the success of the project.
The doubling of the Genga-Serra San Quirico section, approximately 8.9 km long and running on an entirely different route compared to the existing line, will increase the operating speed from 90 km/h to 165 km/h and the capacity of the line. The project involves the construction of six tunnels (totalling approximately 5 km), four viaducts (approximately 0.8 km) and alternating embankments and cuttings for approximately 3.2 km. It also includes the construction of the new Genga station and the redevelopment of the area serving the “Grotte di Frasassi” tourist site.
This milestone represents yet another concrete step towards building a more modern, efficient and sustainable rail transport network and, once again, Italferr confirms its role as a leader in infrastructure innovation, serving the local communities and the country as a whole.