Florence is about to undergo a major overhaul of its rail hub. To avoid high-speed trains having to turn around through the existing station, a new underground link is being created beneath the historic heart of the Tuscan city. With another project: the construction of a futuristic new station not far from the current one. Explanations.
The new bypass in Florence, part of the high-speed rail (TAV) project, is an infrastructure initiative aimed at improving both urban and rail mobility in the Tuscan city. Its construction seeks to reduce surface traffic and enhance connections between the north and south of the country, promoting rapid and sustainable travel. Florence is a crucial hub in Italy’s rail network, and the goal is to create an underground line that allows high-speed trains to pass through the city without stopping at the central Santa Maria Novella station, thereby freeing it from transit traffic.
The main challenge is obviously to avoid the turnarounds high-speed train turnarounds at Florence Santa Maria Novella station, although there is already a rail bypass to the north of the city, but it is a long way from the city centre.