Automatic Conductor-less Line 1 of the Metro Opens in Turin as City Hosts XXth Winter Olympics On 4th February, 2006 the first 7.5 km section of Line 1 of Turin's metro has been inaugurated. The ceremony was attended by many officials, among whom Pietro Lunardi, the minister for infrastructure and transport, deputy minister Ugo Martinat, Mercedes Bresso, the president of the Piedmont region, Antonio Saitta, the president of the Turin province, and mayor of Turin Sergio Chiamparino.This is Italy's first automatic conductor-less metro line. The system is operated by remote control and remote measurements from the operating control room, the system's nerve centre. The highly innovative line is characterised by each station being segregated from the running tracks by transparent sliding doors. Turin's metro uses the VAL technology (automated light vehicle) already in use in Lille, Toulouse, Taipei, Rennes, Antony-Paris Orly and Chicago. The system ensures security, flexibility and cost saving during operation. Pietro Lunardi, minister for infrastructure and transport (centre), Mercedes Bresso, president of the Piedmont region (second from right), Antonio Saitta, president of the Turin province (right), and Turin mayor Sergio Chiamparino (left). The inaugurated section includes 11 stations from east to west: XVII Dicembre, Principi d'Acaia, Bernini, Racconigi, Rivoli, Monte Grappa, Pozzo Strada, Massaua, Marche, Paradiso and Fermi in Collegno municipality.By June 2007, a 3 km south extension from Porta Susa station to Porta Nuova station will open. The tunnel is already completely excavated. The overall cost of the Collegno-Porta Nuova section will then be EUR650 million.By 2009-2010, another extension from Porta Nuova to Lingotto will be inaugurated, requiring a total investment of EUR350 million. Click it/26, here and here. Read E-News Weekly 46/2004, 23/2004, 16/2004, 49/2003, 11/2003 & 33/2002. Visit www.gtt.to.it and www.metrotorino.it 07/06.