Palermo - Catania - Messina

Home Strategic Projects Palermo-Catania-Messina

The project involves an upgrade to the connection between Palermo, Catania and Messina, ensuring:

For the Messina–Catania line: an electrified double-track section between Fiumefreddo and Giampilieri;
For the Palermo–Catania line: double-track sections between Bicocca and Catenanuova and between Fiumetorto and Lercara, and single-track sections running alongside the existing line between Lercara and Catenanuova. During a second phase, most of the single-track sections will be upgraded to electrified double tracks;
Redevelopment of the Catania junction.
Overall, these measures ensure compliance with interoperability requirements and speed up the Messina – Catania – Palermo route.
The project will significantly increase the competitiveness of rail passenger transport, and meet mobility needs by reducing journey times, with increased frequency and regularity of service.
The Palermo - Catania - Messina project has received partial public funding, including through NRRP funds.

With effect from 12 March 2026, the date on which Decree-Law No. 36 (published in the Official Gazette No. 58 of 11 March 2026) came into force, in accordance with Article 5 of that decree, the Chief Executive Officer of RFI SpA has taken over from the previously appointed Extraordinary Commissioners.

The advantages

Once fully operational, the new Palermo–Catania connection will reduce current journey times by around 60 minutes, connecting the two major cities in 2 hours, compared with the current 3 hours.
The new infrastructure will enable a review of the service, which involves speeding up connections between Sicily’s main cities.
The new connection between Messina and Catania will cut journey times between the two cities by around 20 minutes.
The performance upgrade of the entire route covered by the project, in terms of axle load limits and gauge, represents an initial step towards upgrading the infrastructure, aimed at creating the conditions for developing freight rail traffic within the island.
Improved access to railway services thanks to the construction of new service facilities and the upgrading of the main stations along the new line, and of the sections of the existing line that will remain in operation.

200 km/h maximum speed

227 total kilometres

12,676 mld € in investments

Work progress status

Design
Since 2015
Permits
Since 2016
Tenders
Since 2017
Start of work
Since 2018
End of work
Since 2025

Fiumetorto - Lercara branch line - 1^ macro-phase Palermo - Catania: Lot 1+2 Fiumetorto - Lercara branch line

Stages of progression: WORKS

Design end date: 2020
End date of the authorisation process: 2022
Date of tender publication: 2022
Start date of executive design and implementation: 2023
Work end date: 2029
Activation Date: 2030

Lercara branch line - Caltanissetta Xirbi - 1^ macro-phase Palermo - Catania: Lot 3 Lercara branch line - Caltanissetta Xirbi

Stages of progression: WORKS

Design end date: 2020
End date of the authorisation process: 2022
Date of tender publication: 2022
Start date of executive design and implementation: 2023
Work end date: 2027
Activation Date: 2027

Caltanissetta Xirbi – Enna - 1^ macro-phase Palermo - Catania: Lot 4a Caltanissetta Xirbi - Enna

Stages of progression: WORKS

Design end date: 2020
End date of the authorisation process: 2022
Date of tender publication: 2022
Start date of executive design and implementation: 2023
Work end date: 2027
Activation Date: 2027

Enna - Dittaino - 1^ macro-phase Palermo - Catania: Lot 4b Enna - Dittaino

Stages of progression: Works

Design end date: 2020
End date of the authorisation process: 2021
Date of tender publication: 2022
Start date of executive design and implementation: 2022
Work end date: 2026
Activation Date: since 2026

Dittaino - Catenanuova - 1^ macro-phas Palermo - Catania: Lot 5 Dittaino - Catenanuova

Stages of progression: WORKS

Design end date: 2019
End date of the authorisation process: 2022
Date of tender publication: 2022
Start date of executive design and implementation: 2022
Work end date: 2026
Activation Date: 2026

Catenanuova Bicocca - 1^ macro-phase Palermo - Catania: Lot 6 Catenanuova Bicocca

Stages of progression: WORKS

Design end date: 2015
End date of the authorisation process: 2016
Date of tender publication: 2017
Start date of executive design and implementation: 2018
Work end date: 2024
Activation Date: since February 2025

2^ macro-phase Palermo - Catania - 2^ macro-phase of the new Palermo - Catania connection, upgrading the existing line to TSI with activation of doubled sections, single lot

Stages of progression: DESIGN

Design end date: 2025
End date of the authorisation process: 2025

Catania Junction - Catania Junction: Burying the Catania Acquicella - Bicocca line to eliminate interference with the Fontanarossa Airport

Stages of progression: WORKS

Design end date: 2021
End date of the authorisation process: 2022
Date of tender publication: 2022
Start date of executive design and implementation: 2023
Work end date: 2026
Activation Date: 2027

Catania Centrale and Catania Acquicella - Catania Junction: Burying at Central Station and completion of double track between Catania Centrale and Catania Acquicella

Stages of progression: DESIGN

Design end date: 2022
End date of the authorisation process: 2026

Raddoppio Fiumefreddo-Giampilieri - Raddoppio Fiumefreddo-Giampilieri

Stages of progression: WORKS

Design end date: 2017
End date of the authorisation process: 2020
Date of tender publication: 2020
Start date of executive design and implementation: 2021
Work end date: 2029 by steps
Activation Date: since 2030 by steps

Raddoppio Letojanni-Giampilieri - Raddoppio Letojanni-Giampilieri

Stages of progression: WORKS

Design end date: 2017
End date of the authorisation process: 2020
Date of tender publication: 2020
Start date of executive design and implementation: 2021
Work end date: 2029
Activation Date: 2030

Palermo - Catania - Messina