Chiaia Funicular, ANM announces reopening by January 2025
After two years off, funicular of Chiaia is preparing to return to service, with a planned reopening within the 31 January 2025. This was announced by the ANM, the Neapolitan mobility company, specifying that the works twenty-year maintenance they are now completed and only the final testing phases remain.
A very important plant closed since October 2022, which has been subjected to mandatory interventions by law, necessary to guarantee safety and efficiency to public transport in Naples.
What are the reasons for the delays in the opening of the Chiaia Funicular?
The reopening of the funicular of Chiaia has suffered several delays than initially forecast. The closure, which took place in October 2022 for twenty-year maintenance work, should have been completed in a shorter time.
Unfortunately, a number of factors have contributed to the lengthening of the times:
- Deserted tenders: initially, the procedures for the assignment of the works went unfulfilled, delaying the start of the interventions.
- Increase in material costs: During the Covid crisis, the prices of materials and mechanical processing increased significantly, requiring a revision of tender notices.
- Staff training: the new technologies implemented in the plant have required specific training for operating personnel, further extending the reopening times.
What did the twenty-year maintenance work consist of?
La twenty-year maintenance of the Chiaia funicular required complex and structured interventions, necessary to ensure compliance with the regulations on the safety and efficiency of cableway systems.
The works included:
- Civil works, aimed at improving the overall structure of the plant.
- Electromechanical interventions, which affected components crucial to operation.
- Complete replacement of the engine room, a fundamental element to ensure service continuity and technological reliability.
Operations that were carried out respecting rigorous technical and temporal standards, coordinated by the ANM with the support of experts in the sector.
What are the final stages: technical tests and trials
Currently, the funicular of Chiaia is in the delicate phase of final check. As specified by Anm, the procedures are being completed functional tests, supervised by Ansfisa (National Agency for Railway Safety). Activities already carried out include:
- Checks on essential equipment and technologies.
- Detailed tests on electromechanical and safety systems.
The tests will be carried out soon braking tests, essential to ascertain the reliability of the system. Once concluded, it will be possible to proceed with the release of the technical clearance, which will kick off the period of pre-exercise at full load, simulating service under conditions of maximum attendance.
When will it officially reopen?
If everything goes smoothly, the funicular of Chiaia could reopen to the public between 10 and 20 January 2025. During this period of pre-exercise, the system will be tested with ballasted cars to simulate crowding and ensure that the service functions correctly even in conditions of high attendance.
Based on the technical clearance of Ansfisa, Anm will indicate the specific service times, with possible variations. If no technical problems occur, the regular service will resume within the 31 January 2025, finally bringing this long wait to a close.