Launched at the end of 2024 from the Campo di Marte construction site and engaged in the excavation of one of the two railway tunnels that are crossing the Tuscan capital, the TBM has reached the chamber of the future Belfiore Station, marking the first important milestone in the construction of the new Florence High-Speed Rail Link.

Marika is expected to enter the station chamber at the beginning of February.

To date, Marika has travelled 3 km and approximately 2,000 prefabricated segments have been installed to line the tunnel, while Iris, its twin, is currently stationary near the Fortezza da Basso, from where it will resume its journey towards the station.

Once the moles have reached the station, they will undergo maintenance work and then be moved into the chamber already excavated down to the track level, before continuing, alternating, in a northerly direction.

Approximately 150 workers from the Florentia Consortium, comprising Impresa Pizzarotti and Saipem, were employed daily to carry out the excavation, in addition to numerous technicians from RFI, Italferr and Infrarail, who contribute every day to the construction of a strategic project for the local and national territory.

The Florence High-Speed Rail Link is part of the Cantieri Parlanti project, carried out by the FS Group in collaboration with the MIT, to transparently communicate the activities and benefits of the new infrastructure through public initiatives, information points and a dedicated web page.