ITALY: The city council has approved the final design of Firenze tram Line 3.2.2, linking Piazza Libertà on the existing network to Rovezzano main line station.
The €360m project is to cover the construction of a 6·1 km tram line serving 15 new stops.
A 1·2 km section of the alignment between Piazza delle Cure and Largo Gennarelli would be catenary-free. Interchange would also be provided to rail services at Campo di Marte.
Two major infrastructure elements to be built are an underpass under main line tracks near the Le Cure railway station, and the Mensola overpass at Via della Chimera.
As part of the Hub intermodale di Rovezzano project, the park and ride facility at Rovezzano is to be enlarged with 350 additional parking spaces, to augment the existing 140.
The city hall is to request a quotation from concessionaire Tram di Firenze, a joint venture of local operator Ataf and RATP, for the design, construction, and operation of Line 3.2.2.
Line 3.2.2 alone is expected to be used by 9 million passengers a year. It is planned to be merged in operational terms with Line 3.2.1, which is now under construction from Libertà to Bagno a Ripoli.
The city council also approved the early purchase of three trams from a planned fleet of 14 vehicles. These are to be capable of running both under overhead catenary and by battery, like the 46 vehicles ordered in July 2024 from Hitachi Rail. The €12m planned cost of the three trams is covered by national and EU sources.
‘We are talking about a strategic infrastructure to unite the city, the various neighbourhoods, and connect Firenze with the municipalities of the metropolitan area’, commented Sara Funaro, Mayor of Firenze, when the approval was confirmed in late August.
