Naples Metro, Line 6 at the starting whistle: connecting the centre to the west

In truth, there had already been a first partial opening of the Metro in 2007: between Mostra D'Oltremare and Mergellina. However, it was a section that met with little success as it was incomplete and competed with the older Line 2. So in 2013 the De Magistris council, having made a calculation of costs and benefits, decided to close the gates. In the meantime, work went on, the other stations were built (Arco Mirelli, San Pasquale). Then Chiaia and arrival at Piazza Municipio. There will be a new step: the extension of Line 6 westwards is planned: the extension towards Campegna, where the new train depot will be located, is at the design stage (the tender has been awarded). In addition, the extension towards Bagnoli and Posillipo are in the planning stage.

The now-completed part (Mergellina-Municipio) cost about 833 million, of which 558 million came from the Region (Por-Fesr), 189 from various state funds, and 86 from the Municipality.

For further developments, work on the Campegna depot is financed (230 million). Resources for the design of the Bagnoli and Posillipo stations have yet to be found. "Part of the funds earmarked for Bagnoli can be used," says municipal councillor for transport Edoardo Cosenza. This funding is linked to the final decision that will be taken for the sea-fill. If it is decided, also on the basis of the technical investigations underway, that the landfill can remain at sea, this will free up resources to invest in the same area".

Today, the active metro system in Naples consists of two lines: Line 1 and Line 2 (the historic railway line). In total there are 19 stations and three more to be opened by the end of the year.

The projects on the table are still very challenging. Those of Eav, for innovation on the Cumana and Circumvesuviana lines, which remain the real thorn in the side of the region. Line 10', with 14 km of twin-tube tunnels through one of the most densely populated areas of the city, will be able to connect the heart of Naples with the Piazza Carlo III area, with the populous towns of Casavatore, Casoria and Afragola, and, above all, with the Afragola HS station. From this will start the Naples-Bari high-speed line. "This is a metro line on which we are relying heavily," Cosenza points out. "We have the resources: 1.8 billion allocated by the Draghi government and available immediately.

But the 1.8 billion euro tender for the design and construction of the Afragola-Naples metro line has been deserted. The Eav in fact declared the tender closed due to a lack of participants. According to rumours, the companies invited to participate considered the tender amount unprofitable in view of the project's complexity. Today, the project is being revised and a second tender is being called.

Meanwhile, 'Line 3', which should connect Line 1 with the museum of Capodimonte, a wonderful place that is still little visited, is also at the feasibility study stage.

In 2023, Naples' Line 1, equipped with new trains, exceeded 100,000 users per day, or 37 million per year, with a record growth of 25% compared to 2022. The municipality aims to reach 50 million users per year in 2025. A hope especially for the citizens of the region. In the 'Pendolaria 2030' report, Legambiente highlights a serious gap between Italy and other European countries. And among the territories most penalised by the infrastructure gap is the Campania region.