The M4, Milan's new blue metro line (Linate - Forlanini FS section) has passed all its tests and been approved. The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility has authorized the operational start for the first three stations of the new line. The stations, trains and systems have passed all tests, the pre-operation activities, and the simulations necessary to allow the section to become fully operational.  

The new line, commissioned by the Municipality of Milan, is built by the M4 Concession holder, including the Municipality of Milan and a group of private partners, led by the Webuild Group, including Astaldi.  

The new section was built with innovative technologies, without a driver on board (it is a driverless system), which will increase travellers’ safety. It will also connect Linate airport to the city centre in just 12 minutes, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the city’s transport system, while also allowing an estimated annual reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 75,000 t.  

The first functional section, which includes 3 stations (Linate, Repetti, and Forlanini FS), extends entirely underground for about 4 km and it connects Milan's Linate Airport to the Forlanini FS station.    

At the moment the line will not be activated, because the passengers number destined for Linate is, due to the pandemic situation are at 30% less than normal. Also the number of users who would use line 4 at the moment would not justify the cost of the service. For this reason, the Administration has decided to continue to keep the situation at Linate under review and, in the absence of significant increases in passengers, to activate the service when the line reaches the Dateo station.  

For further information click here and it/16 for the tunnelbuilder archive and visit https://www.webuildgroup.com, https://www.comune.milano.it  and  https://www.metro4milano.it. 30/21.