Updated September 2025: The Verona-Padua high-speed/high-capacity railway, a strategic part of the Mediterranean Corridor within the TEN-T core network, is advancing steadily. Stretching 76.5 km across the provinces of Verona, Vicenza, and Padua, the project is being developed in three functional lots. Once complete, it will provide faster connections between Milan and Venice, while enhancing Italy’s integration with wider European transport routes that extend from Spain to the Ukrainian border.
Project factsheet: Verona–Padua HS/HC Railway
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Total length: 76.5 km across Verona, Vicenza, and Padua provinces
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Division: 3 functional lots – Verona–Vicenza junction (44.2 km), Vicenza Crossing (6.2 km), and Vicenza–Padua (26+ km)
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Consortium: IRICAV DUE (Webuild 83%, Hitachi Rail STS 17%)
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Technology: Equipped with ERTMS digital signalling, Europe’s most advanced rail system
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Civil works: 42 km of trenches/embankments, 10.2 km of viaducts, 2.4 km of man-made tunnels (lots 1 & 2 combined)
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Stations: Two new stations under Lot 2 – Vicenza Fiera and Vicenza Viale Roma
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Strategic role: Part of the TEN-T Mediterranean Corridor linking Spain to Ukraine
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Impact: Will connect 75% of Italy’s population to high-speed rail, cutting travel time, reducing road accidents, and boosting regional growth
The first functional lot, running 44.2 km from Verona to the Vicenza junction, is well underway and will improve the existing network by quadrupling the line. The second lot, known as the Vicenza Crossing, is under construction and spans 6.2 km between Altavilla Vicentina and Vicenza station. This section includes two new stations—Vicenza Fiera and Vicenza Viale Roma—along with embankments, underpasses, and 11 technological buildings. The third lot, covering more than 26 km between Vicenza and Padua, is currently in the design phase.
The IRICAV DUE consortium, composed of Webuild (83%) and Hitachi Rail STS (17%), is leading the works. Webuild is overseeing design, civil engineering, and environmental monitoring, while Hitachi Rail is delivering the ERTMS digital signalling system. This advanced European technology will allow more trains to run safely and efficiently, boosting both speed and reliability across the corridor. Technical data for the first two lots include 42 km of trenches and embankments, 10.2 km of viaducts, and 2.4 km of man-made tunnels.
When completed, the Verona-Padua line will serve as a crucial link across Italy’s northeast, completing the Milan–Venice high-speed connection. With 75% of Italy’s population gaining access to high-speed rail, the project promises to reduce environmental impact, improve transport safety, and drive economic and occupational growth. It stands as one of the most important infrastructure initiatives in the country, ensuring Italy remains a vital hub for European and intercontinental mobility.
Italy’s investment in the Verona–Padua line mirrors developments in other European nations focused on modern rail mobility. For instance, Poland plans to launch Europe’s fastest high-speed rail network, complete with a new central airport and 350 km/h trains. Both projects highlight how Europe is reshaping its transport systems to improve connectivity, sustainability, and economic competitiveness.
Reported August 2021: Construction works on the US $3bn section of Verona-Padua high-speed/high-capacity railway in Italy has begun. This is after IRICAV 2 consortium led by the Webuild Group signed the contract for works to begin. The signing comes as the Group forges ahead with Progetto Italia, a strategy to consolidate and strengthen Italy’s infrastructure sector. The Group owns 83% of the consortium (Webuild 45.44%, Astaldi 37.49%) and Hitachi Rail STS.
This particular section with a completion date of 2027, will run for 44.2km between Verona and Bivio Vicenza, crossing 13 municipalities. By quadrupling the existing railway, it will improve the quality of the train service and strengthen its links to a European network, helping reduce the impact on the environment as well as the number of road accidents.
Webuild Chief Executive Pietro Salini said that, just days after delivering the Genoa Bridge, Webuild is very happy to start a new strategic project, this time for mobility in Veneto. “It is another piece of infrastructure that we hope will involve a long supply chain, running from north to south. It comes after the start of work on the Ionian highway in Calabria and on the Nodo Ferroviario in Genoa,” he said.
He further added that, from south to north, Italy is starting up again, and it is doing it with infrastructure, bringing work to the regions. “We are proud to be able to bring our expertise to this project in order to relaunch the country where we have our roots,” he affirmed.
The project will see work start immediately on a US $1bn part of the first section. The other US $2bn for the second part of the section will be financed within 12 months. The investment being made on the entire length of the railway between Verona and Padua is estimated at US $6bn, US $5bn of which is available to the general contractor. It represents an important link across the country’s northeast. It also serves as an example of how infrastructure can bring employment and foster economic revival. Work on the first section is to create about 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.
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Verona-Padua railway
The project, part of the high-speed/high-capacity railway between Milan and Venice, will belong to the Mediterranean Corridor that will link Spain and Ukraine. One of the strategic trans-European transport corridors (the so-called TEN-T core network), it will connect southwestern European countries with countries to the east. The Corridor will support traffic between Europe and Asia. In Europe, meanwhile, it will handle traffic between the southern and eastern regions. With the addition of the line between Milan and Venice to the national network, 75% of the Italian population will have access to high-speed rail service.
“The Genova model has shown that we have before us a great opportunity. Thanks to technical expertise and efficiency and constructive collaboration among institutions, clients and private business, we can finally take on the country’s infrastructure challenges that have existed and been on stand-by for too long. It will also provide opportunities for our young people. We hope that this new project follows the lesson learned from the Genoa Bridge: to build quickly while maintaining quality,” said Salini.
