The European Union has issued a statement reaffirming its support for a new high-speed transalpine railway linking Lyon and Turin following fresh criticism from MEPs.
Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, European coordinator for the TEN-T Mediterranean Corridor, said “this project is one of the most important projects of infrastructure and receives the full support of Europe” following new claims by the French Green party that the project lacked a valid economic case.
The project, which involves the construction of a 57-kilometre twin-bored tunnel beneath the alps, was described as “oversized” in a transport committee meeting earlier this month.
Following the comments, Italian state railways, Ferrovie dello Stato, said that there would be no increase to the €8.3 billion budget to construct the Alpine tunnel. Jan Brinkhorst said the cost of the tunnel was comparable with the Gotthard and Brenner Base Tunnels.
The full cost of the 220 km/h railway is estimated to be in the region of €26 billion. For passengers, the new Lyon-Turin link will cut journey times from around four hours currently to just under two hours.
Jan Brinkhorst added: “I am optimistic that together we will succeed in this project infrastructure of major importance, not only for France and Italy, but throughout Europe. The question is no longer whether the Lyon-Turin will be realised but when and under what conditions.”
We don’t need Turin, Torino will do.