First inaugural journey from Catania Fontanarossa Airport to Catenanuova

Project part of TEN-T Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor

Entirely open-air route, with two artificial tunnels, 25 viaducts and railway overpasses, eliminating all level crossings for safer and smoother road traffic

25 kilometres of water pipelines rebuilt in Piana di Catania

Catania, October 29, 2025 – The first section of the Palermo-Catania high-capacity railway line was inaugurated today, with the first train ride from the station at FS Catania Fontanarossa Airport to Catenanuova, marking a major milestone for mobility in Sicily and the country. The project, carried out by a consortium led by Webuild and commissioned by RFI (FS Italiane Group), spans 38 kilometres. It is part of the broader upgrade of the Palermo-Catania-Messina corridor, for which Webuild is also building six other sections. 

The event was attended by Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, via video link, Sicilian Region President Renato Schifani, and Special Commissioner for the project Filippo Palazzo.

Crossing the provinces of Catania and Enna, the new open-air section has two artificial tunnels, 17 viaducts and eight overpasses. The removal of all level crossings will improve road safety and traffic flow. The stations of Catania Bicocca, Motta Santa Anastasia, Sferro, and Catenanuova have been upgraded to accommodate the double-track railway, which will be opened for commercial service by RFI starting November 2. 

The Bicocca-Catenanuova section is a strategic part for the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which will connect Helsinki, Finland to Valletta, Malta, helping to shorten distances in Sicily as well. Once completed, the Palermo-Catania-Messina corridor, of which this new section is a part, will allow travel between Palermo and Catania in two hours, saving about 60 minutes. It will connect Messina and Catania in 45 minutes, saving about 30 minutes, and enhance freight transport by rail, contributing to the sustainability of the regional logistic system. During the construction of the Bicocca-Catenanuova section, up to 400 people were employed on-site, with over 500 partner companies involved since the start, generating a tangible and significant impact on the local economy.

The project also provided an opportunity to rebuild approximately 25 kilometres of underground water pipelines across the Piana di Catania plain. Excavation work revealed a dense network of old irrigation pipes, canals, and conduits that interfered with the railway route under construction. Consorzio di Bonifica and RFI, in collaboration with Webuild, designed and implemented the renewal – funded by RFI – of part of the water network with new, modern, corrosion- and impact-resistant pipes, eliminating water dispersion.

Webuild is active in Sicily with seven infrastructure projects: six railway projects along the Palermo-Catania-Messina corridor and one motorway on the Ragusana Motorway. These projects, including the Bicocca-Catenanuova section, are expected to generate a total of 7,000 jobs, including direct and third-party personnel. Approximately 4,450 people are already working on site, including direct and third-party personnel. Some 2,700 suppliers have been involved since the beginning of the activities. In the first nine months of 2025, Webuild’s Sicilian construction sites recorded around 770 new hires.