Genoa Node: the high-Speed/high capacity rail line in the heart of the city

In 1974, exactly fifty years ago, construction began on the port of Prà in Genoa. Few would have predicted that this maritime hub would become one of Italy’s largest ports. Today, it is the most modern hub of the Port of Genoa, a strategic logistics center where over 1.6 million containers transit annually.

From here, containers arriving by sea are loaded onto freight trains for distribution across Europe. This journey is set to become faster in the coming years with the arrival of high-capacity rail services directly at the port.

The final segment of the Third Giovi Pass, the high-speed/high-capacity line that will connect Genoa to Milan and the rest of Europe (spanning 53 km), is the Genoa Railway Node. This urban section will allow high-speed trains to traverse the heart of the Ligurian capital on a route independent of regional and metropolitan trains. A true “priority corridor” designed to accelerate commercial traffic and foster the city’s development.

Building a new high-speed rail line from scratch in a highly urbanized area like the center of Genoa would have had a significant impact on the city and the lives of its residents. This led to the decision to repurpose part of the city’s existing infrastructure, including old tunnels, some of which are over a century old. These tunnels were rehabilitated, expanded, and transformed into modern passageways that meet the standards required for European high-speed and high-capacity rail corridors.

This complex and ambitious project, commissioned by RFI and carried out by the Webuild Group, included work on tunnels such as Grazie Bassa. Built in the early 20th century to improve goods circulation from the Old Port, it underwent innovative techniques to enhance safety, reduce construction times, and minimize the impact on residents.

Numerous tunnels were involved in the project, with highly complex interventions like those in the 137-meter-long Facchini Tunnel, part of the “Succursale dei Giovi” railway line. To bring this old tunnel up to the standards for European freight trains while minimizing rail line closures, a special protective metal shell was built. This allowed workers to safely carry out their tasks without interrupting train traffic.

The protective shell also facilitated ground consolidation above the tunnel. Horizontal holes, 122 meters deep, were drilled and filled with a micro-cement mixture to create a protective arch over the existing tunnel.

As part of the Facchini Tunnel works, semi-automatic supports were used during excavation, designed specifically for the construction of the Terzo Valico dei Giovi. These supports improved excavation safety by allowing their installation using only machinery, eliminating the need for workers to operate at close proximity. This significantly reduced exposure to risk, showcasing another highly innovative technique.

The innovations adopted in the construction of the Genoa Node, combined with the Third Giovi Pass (36 of its 53 km running through tunnels), represent a major step in sustainability and economic impact. The primary goal is to transport 30% of goods by rail, reducing reliance on road transport by 2030. This shift will lower costs and emissions, supporting a greener future. Additionally, the connection to Milan will complete the North Sea-Rhine-Mediterranean Corridor, linking Genoa with Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Antwerp. Once operational, travel time between Genoa and Milan will be under one hour, cutting current journey times by 33% and reducing CO2 emissions by 55% compared to road transport.