Rome Presented Project Finance Scheme for Metro Line DOn 13th April, 2006 the project finance scheme of Line D, the fourth subway line in Rome, has been presented. This is a new line to be developed under concession, with small trainsets (not more than 800 passengers), very high frequency (intervals of 90 seconds between trains at peak hours), complete automation (driverless rolling stock) and high comfort on board. The objective is to open the first section by the end of 2015 and complete the priority section (Fermi-Prati Fiscali) by 2018. Click here.Tenders have been invited for the project finance deal, deadline 30th June, 2006. Candidates are requested to present a preliminary project for the construction and operation of Line D of the Rome metro. Click it/14. Roma Metropolitane will declare the project to be in the public interest in 2006. The project is expected to be endorsed by the government in 2007. In end 2008 or early 2009, the concession by means of a negotiated deal will be concluded between the selected bidder and the awarding authority. The concessionaire will build and operate the line for 25 years on behalf of the city of Rome and will finance the full construction costs. The city will repay 60% based on the work progress. At the end of the concession, the ownership of Line D will be transferred to the city, at cost zero. The concession may be for the entire line or just the main section, with possibility to let separate contracts for the east branch and the south extension.The comprehensive project for Line D is divided into three parts: an 11 km-long priority section with 12 stations (Fermi, Trastevere, Nievo, Mastai/Belli, Argentina/Venezia, San Silvestro, Spagna, Fiume/Boncompagni, Buenos Aires, Verbano/Nemorense, Acilia/Vescovio and Prati Fiscali), a 5 km-long second section with six stations (east branch to Ojetti station) and a 4 km-long third section with four stations (south extension up to Agricoltura station). The overall investment is estimated at EUR2,860 million (65% for the central stretch, 14% for the south extension and 21% for the east branch). For the priority section, EUR810 million will be spent for civil works, EUR120 million for civil equipment, EUR220 million for system technologies, EUR140 million for rolling stock, EUR170 million for the archeological excavations, utility relocation, land purchases and technical expenditure. To reduce the impact on the archeological subsoil, the risks to buildings and the reservation of areas used for storage, clear system-related choices have been made (reduced size of the trainsets thereby reducing the tunnel excavation volumes and the dimensions of the access adits and station halls, fulfilment of safety standards and complete automated line with easy removal of trainsets). Similarly, construction-related decisions have been made (TBM-driven tunnels at a depth of 40-50 metres in the historical centre to cross Lines A and C and build the interchange stations or at a depth of 20-30 metres in the most extreme zones, running tunnels with expanded section in the central stretch to house the station platforms, as per the Rome method, access adits to the stations, built independently from the position below ground of the platforms). Click here. Visit www.romametropolitane.it 19/06.