No Tav Sant'Ambrogio-Avigliana March of 3 October 2026
The No Tav march of 3 October 2026 took place from Sant'Ambrogio di Torino to Avigliana, in the Val di Susa, to protest against the construction of the new Avigliana-Orbassano rail link, part of the Torino-Lione line project. The demonstration was attended by former Turin mayor Chiara Appendino, now a Member of Parliament for the Movimento 5 Stelle, who reiterated her party's opposition to the project, criticising its rising costs and delays and calling the Torino-Lione line «a bottomless pit».[1]
The demonstration
The peaceful march was joined by numerous representatives of the Piedmontese so-called «campo largo» (broad coalition), including Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra MP Marco Grimaldi, as well as several mayors from the Susa Valley and local Partito Democratico figures, such as Casellette councillor Pacifico Banchieri.[2]
Political reactions
The presence of Appendino and Grimaldi at the march reignited tensions between the Movimento 5 Stelle and the Turin Partito Democratico, which supports the Torino-Lione project, at a time when the centre-left is discussing a possible alliance ahead of Turin's municipal elections.[1]
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi called the presence of campo largo representatives at the march «absurd», arguing that construction stoppages caused by No Tav protests cost around €200 million a year, mainly due to halted works and security measures. Rixi also recalled the No Tav attack of the previous 25 July, which had prompted Piedmont Region president Alberto Cirio to take part in a «Sì Tav» rally in Piazza Palazzo di Città in Turin.[2]
Background to the project
According to reported data, ten years after the start of excavation of the base tunnel on the French side at Saint-Martin-la-Porte, overall work on the Torino-Lione line stood at 30.2% complete, with just over 49 kilometres excavated out of a planned total of 164, a figure that falls to 21 when considering the base rail tunnel alone.[2]
Related articles: Chiara Appendino, Torino-Lione
Pages linking here
Sources
- La Stampa — 3 October 2026
- CronacaQui Torino — 3 October 2026