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European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
  • Project

A new Alpine rail connection between Lyon and Turin

lyon turin railway tunnel
©Caroline Moureaux for TELT

The Lyon-Turin Base Tunnel is a trans-European transport network flagship infrastructure project in the heart of the Mediterranean Corridor. It will consist of a 57.5-kilometer rail tunnel beneath the Alps, for the cross-border section between Italy and France. 

The project is expected to be completed by 2033 and, once operational, will allow trains to travel on a plain level line. Therefore, the tunnel is expected to significantly shift freight transport from road to rail, increase the line's capacity, and cut significantly travel time, with positive environmental, economic and transport benefits.

By the end of 2024, the project achieved very important progress. Out of the 164 km of tunnels planned for the project (two single-track tubes, four entry tunnels and 204 safety by-passes), a total of 39.5 km was excavated, of which more than 15 km of base tunnel. All contracts related to the civil works (for a total €4 billion) were awarded, and ten construction sites are currently in operation.

During 2024, significant groundwork was laid for the installation and use of tunnel boring machines. These advanced machines are custom-built to dig underground quickly and safely. They will enable more rapid and efficient progress in completing the tunnel, clearing and transporting of material while minimising working time. Five of the seven tunnel boring machines that will dig the tunnel were delivered on-site or are currently under construction.

By applying the principles of the circular economy at cross-border level, over 50% of the excavation materials will be reused, for example to build the inner concrete blocks of the tunnel, thereby reducing waste and lowering environmental costs.

These developments demonstrate the commitment and tangible progress in constructing the new Lyon-Turin railway line, a project of crucial importance for improving connections between Italy and France and for removing bottlenecks in the CEF Mediterranean corridor.

Works and preparatory studies have been co-funded by CEF Transport, mainly under two distinct but complementary projects: