The European Union (EU), which has already invested hundreds of millions of euros in this huge project, allocated an additional 765 million euros to the Lyon-Turin project on Wednesday. This is a controversial project The high-speed rail line between France and Italy was opened by Brussels more than 30 years ago, but had a series of failures and its value has continued to be revised upwards.
Currently, an envelope of 700 million euros has been allocated for this tunnel dug under Mont-Genis in the Alps and its connection to the railways of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne (France) and Susa (Italy). A “record” investment of €7 billion dedicated to sustainable transport infrastructure, according to a Commission press release.
In addition, an envelope of 64,569 million euros was given to co-finance studies that have yet to start to determine the route of the French railways between Lyon and the tunnel. The EU has not provided funding for studies dedicated to the Lyon railway bypass, which was included in a grant request presented in Brussels at the end of January.
The cost of the tunnel was again estimated at 10 billion euros
This tunnel represents a total of 164 km of galleries (in a double section of 57.5 km, plus intermediate access, service and communication roads). These days, 37 km have already been excavated13.5 km for the main tunnel, according to the French-Italian public company Telt, which plans to open in 2032.
The value of the Lyon-Turin route, which has grown steadily since its inception, was estimated by the French Court of Auditors in 2012 at more than €26 billion, since then total figures have not been released. According to figures obtained by AFP from Telt in spring 2023, the cost of the cross-border tunnel alone has increased by 85% since the start of the project, from €5.2 billion to €9.6 billion.
The cost of the study of French roads, including the Lyon bypass, was estimated at €220 million, including €130 million. This was caused by the distribution of 130 million between the state and local authorities long and intense discussions, Until one day from the deadline for the submission of the grant application in Brussels in January. According to various estimates, the planned investments amount to 8-15 billion euros with the participation of Europe.
A hotly contested project
In France as in Italy the project is supported by authorities and economic players in the name of rail freight development. However, environmental activists who point out its effect on the mountain range and its “pharaonic” value object to it.
In June 2023 thousands of Earth Rebellion protesters Those who gathered in the Maurienne valley to protest the construction site, joined by activists of the Italian No-Tav movement, opposed the project.