LIVORNO. Think about waiting for the train at the “Livorno Marittima” station. We start from here. For the via ferrata. Maybe someone gets off at Porta San Marco. Well yes, that “Leopolda” who cries out for revenge, today in total degradation. Or you stop at Calambrone or Tombolo. The destination for others could be Pisa San Rossore perhaps for a Sunday excursion in the reserve or for work. But you can also get to San Giuliano Terme, Ripafratta up to Lucca Centrale.
A dream? A purpose? An idea? The Li-Pi-Lu urban train was already described to the municipal council in a first feasibility study commissioned last year from the Metropolitana Milanese company and costing 110 thousand euros (financed entirely with contributions from the Ministry). The first report says yes. He says that the tram system for the Livorno-Pisa-Lucca vast area and metropolitan areas can be done. The project in its entirety is certainly ambitious. Millionaire. With implementation times which, according to councilor Giovanna Cepparello, could span five years.
A project which, in its wake, would bring new life and centrality to areas such as San Marco. Rapid transport that would be good for tourism, the environment and the fight against pollution. A book of wishes, some will say. But one brick of this vision of the Livorno, Pisa, Lucca metropolitan area has been laid. And shared by the Tuscany Region and the Railways. From Livorno we look at Lucca as a metropolitan area.
«It is a challenging project – underlines the Mobility councilor – The feasibility study says that it can be done: we had included it in our Pums. Politics must think about potholes in the roads but also about strategic infrastructures for rapid mass transport.”
The report talks about using tracks that already exist, some decommissioned and others underused. 14 stations are planned: the Maritime Station is the departure of the urban train. Arrival in Lucca. In a first phase we are thinking of an hourly train, with the name Li-Pi-Lu from the port arriving in Lucca and one every half hour that only goes Livorno-Pisa and vice versa. «There isn’t much work to do, it involves reactivating abandoned or underused tracks, the most complex is the redevelopment of the San Marco station». The port, in the global vision of this ambitious project which looks to the RER of Paris, would also be reached from the heart of Venice, from an underpass to be built at Piazza del Luogo Pio.
«The first phase of connection is planned with Pisa Centrale, San Rossore and San Giusto which connects with the Pisa Mover towards the airport; the next phase is that of San Giuliano up to Lucca”. The study is based on “big data” provided by the Region: from the mobile phones of people who move it has been calculated that in the Livorno, Pisa, Lucca metropolitan area with over 500 thousand inhabitants, including tourists, around 100 thousand people move every day . «And 82% of these travel by car – underlines Cepparello – An urban train would be strategic for changing territories, habits, abandoning cars». A second phase of the study will follow which will shed light on the costs. «It is a very serious investigation carried out by a leading company in the sector». The report highlights the 2 current railways that lead to Pisa, the simplest which passes through the so-called Gooseneck and the iron-cut line. «The next step is to move from the technical-economic feasibility study to a real project, based on an agreement with the Region, Railways and the other Municipalities».
