Webuild: construction of the Palermo–Catania–Messina Railway subject of a video

With footage of work sites, video illustrates strategic project to build approximately 200 kilometres of rail to reduce travel times by an hour between Catania and Palermo, and by 30 minutes between Messina and Catania

Sustainable and innovative works involving giant tunnel-boring machines that also line their walls with segments produced locally in Sicily

MILAN, 26 May 2026 – The new Palermo–Catania–Messina railway, a strategic project of approximately 200 kilometres being built by Webuild that is set to transform mobility in Sicily is featured in a new video produced by Geopop, a popular science platform.

The video focuses on the key engineering challenges and the solutions adopted to deliver a modern, sustainable and highly technological railway, taking viewers inside Webuild’s construction sites. The railway will reduce travel times between the island’s main cities, contributing to job creation and economic growth, with around 6,800 jobs expected across the supply chain.

Out of a total of approximately 200 kilometres, more than 110 of the railway will run through tunnels excavated using tunnel-boring machines. As they advance underground, these TBMs are able to optimise construction times, increase safety and improve the overall quality of the project.

A distinctive element of the new railway is how key elements are locally produced. The segments that line the recently excavated tunnels are manufactured locally in Sicily at three plants, generating value for the region and supporting an integrated supply chain.

Once operational, the railway will allow passengers to travel between Palermo and Catania in around 2 hours. Between Catania and Messina, they will need around 45 minutes, reducing travel times by 60 and 30 minutes, respectively. This improvement will strengthen connections between the island’s main urban areas and enhance their integration into European transport corridors.

The project, commissioned by RFI – Gruppo FS Italiane, is part of the Scandinavian–Mediterranean Trans-European Transport (TEN-T) Corridor, a strategic axis for sustainable mobility. Webuild is involved in the construction of six sections of the Palermo–Catania–Messina route, following the completion in 2025 of the first Bicocca–Catenanuova section.

Also in Sicily, the Group is working on the Ragusa–Catania motorway, another key infrastructure project aimed at improving connectivity along the eastern side of the island.