CAF Consortium Wins Major Contract for Fully Automated Naples Metro Line
A consortium led by rolling stock manufacturer CAF has secured a major contract to deliver Lot 2 of the new Naples Metro Line 10, marking a significant step forward for the city’s transport expansion plans. The contract was awarded by E.A.V. S.r.l., the public transport authority for Italy’s Campania region, and covers the design and delivery of a fully automated metro system.
The CAF-led RTI consortium also includes AET S.r.l., Francesco Ventura Costruzioni Ferroviarie S.r.l., Mer Mec STE S.r.l. and Leonardo S.p.A. The overall value of the project, including optional elements, could exceed €630 million, with the initial base phase valued at €259 million.
Under the agreement, the consortium will deliver a wide-ranging package of systems and infrastructure. This includes CBTC and ATO signalling to GoA4 standards, power substations, overhead line equipment, telecommunications and data networks, platform screen doors and the line’s Operational Control Centre. The contract also covers the supply of a new fleet of fully automated trains, depot workshop equipment and long-term maintenance services.
The new trains will be based on CAF’s INNEO platform and configured as three-car units designed for high passenger capacity. They will feature a contemporary interior and exterior design and are intended to support fully driverless operation across the line.
For CAF, the project represents a major milestone. It is the company’s first fully automated metro project and strengthens its position in the railway signalling market. The deployment of CAF’s OPTIO system will allow GoA4 operation across the network, enabling fully autonomous train movements without on-board staff and offering improvements in reliability, safety and operational efficiency.
GoA4 represents the highest grade of automation in rail transport, with the control system managing all aspects of train operation. This includes driving, stopping, emergency responses, door control and depot movements, without any human intervention on board.
Naples Metro Line 10, also known as the Afragola–Napoli LAN Line, will extend for around 12 kilometres and is intended to become a key element of the city’s urban transport network. The line will link the Afragola high-speed rail station with the wider Naples metro system, improving connectivity with Italy’s national rail network as part of the region’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan.
The contract also supports CAF’s longer-term growth strategy, aligning with the objectives set out in its 2026 Strategic Plan to strengthen its role as a comprehensive mobility solutions provider.
CAF has been active in Italy since 2000, when it first supplied trains for the Rome Metro. Since then, it has delivered more than 70 metro units for Rome’s A, B and Rome-Lido lines, along with additional vehicles for Naples operated by E.A.V. The company has also supplied regional and suburban trains to several Italian cities and continues to expand its presence in the tram and bus markets, including a large fleet of zero-emission vehicles operating nationwide.
Image: CAF