Brescia breaks ground on new T2 tram line

Construction has formally begun on Brescia’s new T2 tram line between the exhibition district at Fiera and the Pendolina neighborhood, marking a significant step in the city’s long-planned expansion of electric public transport.

A long-planned project enters the construction phase

Recent updates from municipal and regional planning documents indicate that July 2026 has been set as the practical start date for work on the T2 Fiera–Pendolina tram line, following several months of preparatory activities. An institutional ceremony held at the Brescia fairground area in early July symbolically marked the laying of the first stone, confirming that the project has now moved from design into active construction.

The new line has been under discussion for more than a decade as part of Brescia’s broader shift toward rail-based public transport and in support of the existing automatic metro. Background material from the city shows that feasibility studies, route definition and environmental assessments have progressively shaped the current scheme, which was integrated into the local Urban Sustainable Mobility Plan and later backed by national funding.

Key contractual steps were completed in mid-2025, when Brescia Mobilità, the local public transport company, awarded a consortium led by Manelli Impresa with Hitachi Rail and Alstom the contract to design and build the line, including civil works, systems and rolling stock. Publicly available corporate and municipal releases describe this agreement as covering both the executive design and full realization of the T2 corridor.

Administrative acts published by Italian authorities over the past few years show that central government financing has been secured for the line, with subsequent regional and municipal approvals clearing the way for expropriations, utility relocations and other enabling works. These steps paved the path to the start of physical construction now visible on the ground.

Route, stations and key technical features

According to project descriptions shared by the Municipality of Brescia and Brescia Mobilità, the T2 tram will run for approximately 11 to 12 kilometers between Pendolina in the northwest and the Brixia Forum fair area in the southwest. The alignment broadly follows the current north–south bus corridor, linking residential quarters, key traffic arteries and major event venues without entering the most sensitive historic core.

The line is planned to include around 20 stops, though the exact number and naming may evolve in the detailed design phase. Documentation highlights interchanges with the existing Brescia Metro and main bus services, aiming to create a seamless network in which the tram acts as a surface “backbone” complementing the underground line. Stops near the exhibition center and the PalaLeonessa arena are expected to play a central role during large events and trade fairs.

Technical material from the construction consortium indicates that the system will be a modern, low-floor electric tramway with accessible platforms and priority at intersections. The rolling stock is to be supplied by Hitachi Rail and Alstom, with vehicles designed to meet contemporary standards for energy efficiency, noise reduction and passenger comfort. The infrastructure package includes trackwork, power supply, signaling, depots and related urban redesign along the corridor.

Local planning documents emphasize that the project will also reshape public space along the route. In several sections, the tram right-of-way is accompanied by new or upgraded pedestrian areas, cycling paths and reorganized car traffic, reflecting a multimodal approach aimed at reducing congestion and reallocating street space to sustainable mobility.

Timelines, investment and expected capacity

Official planning and tender documentation place the investment for the T2 line in the range of several hundred million euros, largely financed through state funds dedicated to urban rail projects, with contributions from regional and local bodies. Figures cited in national and municipal publications commonly refer to commitments of over 300 million euros linked to design, construction and vehicles.

Reports from local media and publicly available institutional statements converge on a construction schedule running from 2026 through the end of the decade. While preparatory forecasts at the time of contract signing pointed to early construction starts in 2025, subsequent adjustments shifted the opening of the line to the second half of 2030. Recent coverage continues to reference this 2030 horizon as the target for the start of revenue service.

Operational plans presented in technical summaries suggest that the tram will run at high frequencies on weekdays, with the potential to carry tens of thousands of passengers per day along the corridor once fully integrated with the bus and metro networks. The line is expected to absorb a significant share of current bus traffic while offering greater capacity and reliability through dedicated tracks and signal priority.

Economic assessments included in planning files project long-term benefits in reduced travel times, lower operating costs per passenger compared with buses and improved accessibility to employment, education and leisure destinations. These forecasts underpin the decision to prioritize the T2 corridor as a central component of Brescia’s mobility strategy.

Environmental and urban impact for a growing green city

Brescia has positioned the T2 tram as a flagship initiative in its broader environmental and climate policies. In documentation prepared for European sustainability assessments, the city highlights the line as a major contributor to reducing private car use, cutting local air pollutants and lowering greenhouse gas emissions through a shift to electric traction.

By serving dense residential districts and major traffic generators such as the fairground, the project is intended to create a strong alternative to car commuting and event-related traffic. Environmental scenarios shared in planning material point to potential decreases in congestion on radial roads and junctions that currently experience heavy peak-hour flows.

Urban design components linked to the tram construction include the redevelopment of streetscapes, new tree plantings and improved cycling infrastructure along parts of the route. These interventions are framed as opportunities to upgrade public space, enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists and strengthen the visual identity of the corridor.

Local debate reported in regional media has also focused on preserving neighborhood livability during the construction phase, with attention to noise, dust and access to homes and businesses. Project information made available to residents describes temporary traffic plans, phased works and mitigation measures intended to reduce disruption while the line is built.

Public communication and next steps on the T2 corridor

In the years leading up to construction, the Municipality of Brescia and Brescia Mobilità have organized public presentations, exhibitions and online information campaigns to explain the project and collect feedback. Materials from these initiatives show route maps, renderings of future tram stops and details of how existing bus services will be reorganized once the line opens.

As work begins along the northern sections near the fair area, attention is now turning to how construction will advance through subsequent segments of the corridor. Planning documents indicate that the tramway will be built in phases to maintain as much local accessibility as possible and to coordinate with underground utilities, roadworks and complementary urban projects.

Observers following the project note that the coming years will be decisive for meeting the 2030 opening target, given the complexity of urban rail works and the need to manage contracts, supply chains and local impacts. Progress updates are expected to focus on milestone achievements such as track laying, depot construction, delivery of the first vehicles and testing activities.

With the T2 line now moving from plans to visible worksites, Brescia is entering a new chapter in its transport history. The outcome of this construction phase will shape how residents and visitors move across the city, and will help define the role of electric trams in the evolving mobility landscape of northern Italy.