The competing names are rooted in local tradition: one group draws inspiration from the myth of the sirens Leucosia and Ligea, while the other is inspired by renowned cultural figures such as Elvira Notari and Olga Schiavo

The two TBMs will soon go into operation and are the largest ever used by Webuild in Europe, alongside TBM Partenope, which has been in use since February

SALERNO, Italy, October 31, 2025 – Two giant machines are about to begin their journey in the heart of southern Italy, and it will be up to the public to decide what names they will assume. Webuild has today launched a public contest to choose the names of the two tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) that will soon start excavating two tunnels on Lot 1A of the Salerno-Reggio Calabria high-speed railway. The project is being carried out by a consortium led by Webuild with partners Pizzarotti, Ghella, and Tunnel Pro, on behalf of RFI (FS Italiane Group). 

To participate in the contest, visit the page: https://tbmnamechallenge.salernoreggiocalabria.it/.   In keeping with the tradition of giving female names to TBMs, the public can vote until November 7 for one of two pairs of names: Leucosia and Ligea, inspired by the sirens of Greek mythology who were said to have lived in the Salerno Bay; or Elvira and Olga, a tribute to two prominent Salerno-born artists: Elvira Notari, Italy’s first female film director, and Olga Schiavo, a painter and ceramist. The winning names from the “Name the Giants” contest will be announced on November 12 on Webuild’s social media channels.

With a cutterhead diameter of 13.46 metres, these two TBMs - along with “Partenope” that has been operating since February on the Saginara tunnel – are the largest TBMs Webuild has deployed in Europe. All three machines will play a key role in constructing the tunnels planned for Lot 1A of the new high-speed railway between Salerno and Reggio Calabria.

Lot 1A is an integral part of a broader project to build the Salerno-Reggio Calabria high-speed railway. It includes 35 kilometres of rail between the cities of Battipaglia and Romagnano, including 20 tunnels (eight of which will be excavated using four TBMs) and 19 viaducts. This line represents a key element in ensuring a fast and continuous connection between southern Italy and Sicily. With the Strait of Messina Bridge, this infrastructure will enable the integration of Sicily’s high-capacity railway network with the national and European networks, as part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors.