On January 25, 2025, the new line of the Alternative Variant Historic Center tramway, known as VACS, was inaugurated and opened to passenger tram circulation, in the presence of the Mayor of the City of Florence, Sara Funaro. This milestone follows a pre-operation period with on-track tests, where the entire fleet of vehicles was circulated but without passengers on board. The construction of the work was entrusted to a temporary consortium of companies (RTI) led by CMB Società Cooperativa Muratori e Braccianti di Carpi, as agent, with Hitachi Rail, Alstom, MERMEC STE (part of the MERMEC Group) and Com.net. The concession from the City of Florence includes the design, construction, supply of vehicles and management of various lines of the Florentine tramway.
As part of the RTI, CMB, in addition to the technical management and coordination of the grouping, designed and built all the infrastructure, tramway track, stops, electrical substation and works of art, in addition to the relocation of interfering subservices, the modification of the roads adjacent to the urban redevelopment of all the areas affected by the intervention, as well as for the line that entered into service, for the works of the new Line 3.2.1 interfering with the VACS works. CMB, as part of Line 3.2.1, financed with PNRR funds, began the construction of three new interchange car parks, the new tram depot and workshop in Bagno a Ripoli and a new bridge over the Arno intended for ordinary roads.
As part of the RTI, Hitachi Rail coordinated the design of the work and carried out system engineering activities, design and supply of both the signalling and line localization system and the rolling stock, as well as preparatory activities for the next extension of Line 3.2.1. (Liberia-Bagno a Ripoli section). For the latter, Hitachi Rail will supply a new fleet of battery-powered vehicles and the signalling and localisation system, as well as having a coordination role in the RTI design activities.
Hitachi Rail’s relationship with the Tuscan territory includes, in addition to the Florence tramway, the supply of regional trains and the presence of a production site with over 1000 people in Pistoia.
For the Centro Storico Alternative Variant, Alstom was responsible for the design and construction of the superstructure, the contact line, the substations, as well as the lighting and motive power and public lighting. Furthermore, Alstom will be involved in the project financed by the PNRR of Line 3.2.1. for the construction of the superstructure, substations and lighting systems. Alstom has a strong bond with the city, demonstrated by the presence of a Florentine plant, which for over 100 years has been a centre of innovation and technological development serving the entire territory.
Com.Net, during the construction phase of the new Variante Alternativa Centro Storico tramway line in the preparatory sections for the next extension of Line 3.2.1 (Liberty-Bagno a Ripoli section) and Line 3.2.2 (Liberty-Nave a Rovezzano section), was responsible for the design and construction of the pilings, the contact line and the stations for charging the battery-powered tram vehicles.
Furthermore, Com.Net, for the same line 3.2.1 will be involved in the design and construction of the pilings and the contact line.
The Variante Alternativa Centro Storico connects the Fortezza da Basso to Piazza San Marco, running along Viale Lavagnini, Piazza della Libertà, Corso Cavour, Via La Pira and Via La Marmora.
The construction of the surface tramway line required the management of various interferences, with impacts on the daily life of the city. The numerous construction sites, made necessary by the complexity of the work, have had repercussions on commercial activities, on services to citizens, as well as on traffic. Continuous coordination between the Construction Subject, the Works Management, the Concessionaire, the Client, the Management Bodies of the underground services, and the various stakeholders has been fundamental: a synergy of great value in the construction phase and, certainly, also in the operation phase.
The Alternative Historic Center Variant is 2.5 km long and has a double track that connects an additional 6 stops to the 13 stops already in operation on Line 2. The connection from Peretola airport to the historic center of the city will allow the transport of approximately 3,800 passengers per hour in each direction, with a peak cadence of 4 minutes and 20 seconds. The tram fleet used will consist of 18 Sirios, already supplied by Hitachi Rail as part of the construction of Line 2. At full capacity, a reduction of a further 9,000 private vehicles in city traffic is estimated, with a reduction in CO2 emissions to the benefit of air quality.
Note to the reader: C.M.B. Società Cooperativa Muratori e Braccianti di Carpi
C.M.B. Società Cooperativa Muratori e Braccianti di Carpi (CMB) is a construction company specializing in civil and hospital construction: it adds great construction capacity to the flexibility needed to cope with the major changes in an increasingly competitive and dynamic construction market. CMB is able to enhance each project in the construction, infrastructure and facility management sectors and is positioned among the main international players in orders managed thanks to BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology. The innovative approach ensures better coordination in design, more targeted controls during the construction phase, optimal management of purchases, more controlled times and costs. In 2019, CMB was the first Italian construction company certified BIM by ICMQ. CMB pursues its development in terms of growth of business and economic results, translating it into employment opportunities, safety, environmental awareness and social progress.
Note to the reader: Hitachi Rail
Hitachi Rail is committed to leading the transition towards sustainable mobility and is clearly focused on collaborating with customers to rethink mobility. Its mission is to help every passenger, customer and community enjoy the benefits of more connected, seamless and sustainable transport. With a turnover of over €7 billion and 24,000 employees in more than 50 countries, Hitachi Rail is a trusted partner to the world’s best transport organisations. The company’s reach is global, but its business is local: success is based on developing local talent and investing in people and communities. Its international capabilities and expertise cover every part of the urban, scheduled and freight rail ecosystem, from high-quality rolling stock manufacturing and maintenance to digital signal safety, intelligent operations and payment systems. Hitachi Rail, famous for Japan’s iconic high-speed bullet train, leverages the digital and AI capabilities of Hitachi Group companies to accelerate innovation and develop new technologies. The Hitachi Group operates in 140 countries with over 270,000 employees and a global turnover of €54.55 billion.
Note to reader: Alstom
Alstom is committed to supporting a low-carbon future by developing and promoting innovative and sustainable transport solutions that people enjoy using. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, Alstom offers its diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry.
With a presence in 64 countries and a wealth of more than 84,700 talents from 184 countries, the company focuses its design, innovation and project management expertise in the sectors where mobility solutions are most in demand. Listed in France, Alstom generated revenues of €17.6 billion for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2024.
Note to the reader: MERMEC STE (part of the MERMEC Group)
MERMEC STE is an international supplier of advanced technologies dedicated to the reliable operation and safe maintenance of railway systems. With headquarters in Genoa and Milan, the company has served the railway industry as a leading supplier of signaling, telecommunications and electric traction systems for almost a century and is today one of the most complete, multidisciplinary and innovative suppliers on the market. The company designs and develops multi-station interlocking, centralized traffic control systems, Radio Block Centres and systems for automatic train movement protection. It also designs and installs telecommunication networks, catenary systems, MV/HV electrical substations, photovoltaic power systems, SCADA and industrial automation solutions, tunnel safety systems, passenger information solutions, CCTV and intrusion detection systems.
Note to the reader: Com.NET
Com.Net is an important Italian company in the panorama of companies that work on plant engineering and in the field of utilities and transport infrastructure. In particular, it is involved in the construction and maintenance of electricity network infrastructure, in the field of smart mobility, and as a General Contractor in industrial and civil plants. Com.Net has over 300 employees, and an expected turnover forecast for 2025 of €65 million. The headquarters is located in Arezzo, but it is strongly rooted with numerous operational offices in the Tuscany Region and in central Italy. Thanks to consolidated partnerships with the most important technology producers, Com.Net can guarantee a vast portfolio of products and services according to the highest market standards, strongly oriented towards the customer and their specific needs following the most modern standards of safety and sustainability (From: Alstom Press Release, 25 January 2025).