photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/83260132@N07/30765807327/Railway
Electrification of 66.3 km in the Ivrea - Aosta section on the Chivasso - Aosta line by 2026 was included in the national recovery and economic resilience plan, announced Giancarlo Cancelleri, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.
Infrastructure Manager RFI estimates that electrification will cost EUR 110 million, with EUR 86 million financed through the Italian recovery plan. Electrical substations would be built in Aosta, Chatillon, and Donnas, and tunnels and bridges would be reconstructed to accommodate contact wires.
Canceller also announced a feasibility study to double-track the 32,4km section between Chivasso and Ivrea, which was electrified back in 2006.
The Chivasso - Aosta line is currently operated by Trenitalia under a contract with the Valle d'Aosta region, which owns a fleet of five Stadler Flirt electric diesel units used on the route. The units were ordered and delivered in 2015 at a cost of €43 million, including the cost of five years of maintenance. The units are designed for a power of 2,6 MW with a maximum speed of 160 km/h in traction operation from 3 kV DC electrification and 700 kW with a maximum speed of 140 km/h when powered by two Deutz TCD 16.0 V8 diesel engines complying with stage IIIB.
The 31,4 km Aosta-Pré-Saint-Didier line, which closed in 2015, is also under consideration. Local authorities are working with RFI on an 18-tonne track upgrade project, which would allow flirts to operate the section, even though funding has not yet been secured.
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