Tunnel Boring Machine Marika Reaches Future Belfiore Station

The tunnel boring machine Marika, working on Florence’s new high-speed rail link, has reached the excavation chamber of the future Belfiore station after advancing three kilometres from Campo di Marte. The machine has installed about 2,000 prefabricated concrete segments to line the tunnel.

The milestone marks the completion of the first section of one of the two single-track tunnels that will run beneath the city as part of the Florence high-speed railway bypass. Work on this stretch has involved around 150 workers from the Florentia consortium, formed by Pizzarotti and Saipem, along with technicians from Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), Italferr and Infrarail.

The tunnel boring machine is expected to fully enter the Belfiore station box in early February, once work on the southern section of the station’s floor is finished. The twin machine, Iris, currently stopped near Fortezza da Basso, will resume excavation toward Belfiore once logistical and maintenance operations are completed. Both machines will later be moved into the station box to continue drilling northward in alternating phases.

The new high-speed bypass will include two tunnels of about five kilometres each and the construction of a new underground station designed to handle long-distance trains separately from the regional network.

Regional president Eugenio Giani said the result demonstrates that tunnelling beneath Florence can proceed safely, with no structural damage recorded in sensitive areas such as via Masaccio, piazza della Libertà and around Fortezza da Basso.

Infrastructure and transport councillor Filippo Boni described the event as “a decisive step” in a project that will “bring a historic change to Tuscany’s transport system,” easing congestion at Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station and improving connections across the region.

However, uncertainty remains over how passengers will travel between the new Belfiore station and Santa Maria Novella, about two kilometres apart. A dedicated people mover system is planned to link the two hubs, but its design, funding and timeline have not yet been finalised, raising questions about the integration of the new underground terminal with the city’s existing transport network.

🎄 Support Florence Daily News this holiday season

If you value our work, please consider supporting Florence Daily News this Christmas.
We’re an independent news site — free from paywalls and intrusive ads — committed to offering clear and reliable reporting on Florence and Tuscany for everyone.

Your contribution helps us remain independent and continue telling the stories that matter.
As a small thank-you, supporters this holiday season will receive an original photograph of Florence — a simple, meaningful gift to celebrate the city we all love.

🎁 Donate securely via Stripe below and make your gift count for good journalism in Tuscany.