Description of the Action
The Fast Track to the Sea Project aimed to enhance rail connectivity in the Comprehensive port of Civitavecchia, a key logistics hub on the Tyrrhenian Sea, located 60 km from Rome and along the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor. The project focused on designing and upgrading last-mile rail connections within the port to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
Key objectives included:
- Modernizing the rail system by extending tracks to accommodate longer trains, eliminating the need for train splitting and reducing operational inefficiencies.
- Enhancing connectivity by enabling direct train arrivals and departures from the port, bypassing the Civitavecchia station, and fully integrating the port into the TEN-T comprehensive rail network.
- Optimizing port operations by streamlining shunting procedures, reducing bottlenecks, and improving multimodal transport efficiency.
- Eliminating interferences between rail and road transport, particularly at dock 23, ensuring smoother logistics flows.
Moreover, the project was in line with the Port Master Plan (2004) and the Italian Port Strategic Plan (2015), contributing to the long-term development of sustainable and efficient port infrastructure.
Project Details
The “Fast Track to the Sea” Action had a total duration of 49 months, starting in April 2019 and concluding in June 2024. The project comprised 3 main activities and included 18 milestones.
The total Action value amounts to €18,460,770, with funding support from the CEF Grant of €3,867,644, of which €1,547,057.60 was received as pre-financing (40%). The remaining funding was covered through own resources, including a BEI Loan of €14,128,576 and a Regional/Local Budget contribution of €300,000.
Results of the Project
Activity 1 - Final and detailed design for the upgrade of the last mile rail connections of the port of Civitavecchia
This Activity consisted of the Final and Detailed Design for the upgrade of the last mile rail connections. The key achievements included:
- New Marshalling Yard: Designed seven dead-end tracks with lengths ranging from 302m to 615m, optimizing space and ensuring independent operations.
- Extended Track Modules: Achieved 600m track lengths, compatible with Civitavecchia Station, with potential future extension to 750m.
- New Rail Connections: Redesigned track layouts to optimize train movements, reduce interference with road networks, and improve efficiency at docks 23, 24, and 25.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Integrated new overpasses and artificial tunnels to eliminate level crossings and streamline logistics.
- Automation & Electrification: Introduced a Centralized Apparatus (ACC) for rail control, replacing outdated systems, and implemented partial electrification for improved locomotive transitions.
- Environmental & Safety Compliance: Ensured seismic stability, drainage efficiency, and minimal impact on protected areas, while enhancing safety features within the port area.
Activity 2 - Works for the upgrade of the last mile rail connections of the port of Civitavecchia
Activity 2 enhanced rail connectivity at the Port of Civitavecchia by upgrading the Molo Vespucci marshalling yard and constructing new last-mile rail connections to docks 23, 24, and 25. These improvements optimized freight transport and integrated the port’s railway infrastructure with external networks.
Key developments included the resizing of the marshalling yard, extension and modernization of seven tracks, and the creation of dedicated rail corridors to improve freight handling. The Operational and Technical Control Building was completed to centralize railway management, while infrastructure enhancements such as new lighting towers, stormwater systems, and reinforced pavements were implemented.
The project also introduced automation and electrification, upgrading the railway control system for improved efficiency and safety. Despite technical challenges, adaptive solutions ensured progress, allowing the gradual commissioning of new tracks. These upgrades have significantly improved port logistics, operational resilience, and transport sustainability, reinforcing Civitavecchia as a key logistics hub.
Activity 3 - Project management and dissemination
This Activity covered the overall project management (coordination and monitoring) and the communication and dissemination activities.