Italy's 1,764-ton tunnel borer 'Aurora' begins final Naples-Bari tunnel after river crossing

Key points

• Aurora, a 1,600-metric-ton (1,764 US-ton) tunnel boring machine, started excavating the Melito Tunnel on September 25, 2026.
• The Melito Tunnel is 4.4 kilometers long, making it the second-longest tunnel on the 18.7-kilometer Apice-Hirpinia section.
• The machine was dismantled and hauled across the Ufita River using a temporary steel bridge and reinforced concrete road between June 4 and June 8, 2026.
• Aurora is powered by 18 electric motors with a combined output of 6.3 megawatts (approximately 8,400 horsepower).
• The project is being built by Webuild for RFI (FS Italiane) and is part of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor of the European TEN-T network.
• More than 140 workers will operate the machine 24/7, installing over 22,200 precast concrete segments to line the tunnel.

Background

The Naples-Bari high-speed rail line is a major infrastructure project in southern Italy, designed to improve connections between Campania and Puglia. The Apice-Hirpinia section, where Aurora is currently working, is 18.7 kilometers long, with nearly 70% of the route running through tunnels. The Naples-Cancello section of the line opened in July 2026, connecting to the national high-speed network at Afragola station. Another tunnel on the same section, the 6.5-kilometer Rocchetta Tunnel, was completed in May 2026 by a second machine named Futura after an 18-month excavation period.

How outlets are covering it

All three sources confirm the start of the Melito Tunnel excavation by Aurora and the machine's specifications (1,600 metric tons, 6.3 MW power, 18 motors). AutoNotion emphasizes the logistical complexity of moving the machine, noting the construction of a temporary steel bridge and reinforced road, and highlights the machine's size relative to a football field. Railway PRO and The Tunnelling Journal provide more technical details, specifying the tunnel length as 4.4 kilometers and the maximum depth as 130 meters. AutoNotion notes a discrepancy in the length of the temporary haul road (2,130 feet vs. 1,640 feet) between Webuild and FS Engineering, while the other sources do not address this measurement variance. AutoNotion also mentions a local priest blessing the machine, a detail not included in the technical reports from Railway PRO or The Tunnelling Journal.

Why it matters

The completion of the Melito Tunnel is a critical step in finishing the Apice-Hirpinia section of the Naples-Bari high-speed rail line. This project is part of the European TEN-T network, aiming to enhance rail connectivity in southern Italy and reduce travel times between major cities. The successful relocation and operation of Aurora demonstrate the engineering capabilities required for large-scale infrastructure projects in challenging terrain, such as the Southern Apennines. The project has generated over 3,000 jobs and involved approximately 2,800 companies, indicating significant economic impact for the region.

What to watch

Aurora will continue excavating the Melito Tunnel, which is expected to take several months given the 4.4-kilometer length and 24/7 operation schedule. Once completed, the Apice-Hirpinia section will be fully underground, connecting to the already opened Naples-Cancello section. The project will then focus on finishing the remaining sections of the Naples-Bari line, including Hirpinia-Orsara and Orsara-Bovino, before the full 145-kilometer route is completed.