Webuild has today launched a public contest to choose the names of the two tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) that will soon start excavating two tunnels on Lot 1A of the Salerno-Reggio Calabria high-speed railway. The project is being carried out by a consortium led by Webuild with partners Pizzarotti, Ghella, and Tunnel Pro, on behalf of RFI (FS Italiane Group). 

With a cutterhead diameter of 13.46 metres, these two TBMs - along with “Partenope” that has been operating since February on the Saginara tunnel – are the largest TBMs Webuild has deployed in Europe. All three machines will play a key role in constructing the tunnels planned for Lot 1A of the new high-speed railway between Salerno and Reggio Calabria.

Lot 1A is an integral part of a broader project to build the Salerno-Reggio Calabria high-speed railway. It includes 35 kilometres of rail between the cities of Battipaglia and Romagnano, including 20 tunnels (eight of which will be excavated using four TBMs) and 19 viaducts. This line represents a key element in ensuring a fast and continuous connection between southern Italy and Sicily. With the Strait of Messina Bridge, this infrastructure will enable the integration of Sicily’s high-capacity railway network with the national and European networks, as part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors.

Following the tradition of giving female names to TBMs, the public can vote until November 7, 2025, for either Leucosia and Ligea—sirens from Greek mythology said to inhabit Salerno Bay—or Elvira and Olga, honoring Salerno-born artists Elvira Notari and Olga Schiavo. The winning names in the “Name the Giants” contest will be revealed on November 12, 2025, via Webuild’s social media channels.