The new upgraded Palermo-Catania-Messina line, which is an integral part of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor, is worth more than €11 billion. The project, which is being carried out by RFI with the support of the engineering company Italferr, under the auspices of the government's special envoy, is also being funded by the PNRR (The National Recovery and Resilience Plan).
Polo Infrastrutture FS has now started work on the Taormina-Fiumefreddo section of the Catania-Messina railway line. The Taormina - Fiumefreddo section is part of the project to double track, speed up, and technologically upgrade the Giampilieri - Fiumefreddo line, one of the most demanding on the Catania - Messina route, which involves the construction of 43 km of new double track, of which about 37 km is underground and a variant of the current line.
The works will increase freight traffic and improve passenger mobility, creating the conditions for the development of a metropolitan service. It will also increase the capacity of the infrastructure, increasing the frequency and number of freight and passenger trains, and running European standard freight trains of greater weight and length than at present. Once fully operational, the journey time between Palermo and Catania will be reduced by approximately 60 minutes, connecting the two cities in 2 hours compared to the current 3 hours. Last but not least, the project will improve the connections between the inland areas of Sicily and the three cities.
