Webuild has inaugurated the first completed section of the Palermo–Catania high-capacity railway, marking a historic milestone for mobility in Sicily and southern Italy. The 38-kilometre Bicocca–Catenanuova section connects Catania Fontanarossa Airport to Catenanuova, forming part of the wider TEN-T Scandinavian–Mediterranean Corridor and representing a major step toward faster, more sustainable transport on the island.
The inauguration took place on 29 October 2025 with the first train journey along the route, attended by senior officials including Italy’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini (via video link), Sicilian Region President Renato Schifani, and project commissioner Filippo Palazzo.
Palermo–Catania: a new era for Sicilian rail infrastructure
The project, commissioned by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) and delivered by a Webuild-led consortium, features a fully open-air double-track alignment with two artificial tunnels, 17 viaducts, and eight overpasses, eliminating all level crossings to improve both rail and road safety.
Stations along the route — Catania Bicocca, Motta Santa Anastasia, Sferro, and Catenanuova — have been upgraded to accommodate the new infrastructure, which will open for commercial service on 2 November.
Once the full Palermo–Catania–Messina corridor is complete, journey times between Palermo and Catania will be reduced to around two hours, cutting travel by one hour, while trips between Messina and Catania will take 45 minutes, saving about 30 minutes. The line will also strengthen freight capacity, supporting a more sustainable logistics system for the region.
Economic and environmental impact
During construction of the Bicocca–Catenanuova section, up to 400 workers were employed on-site, supported by more than 500 partner companies, generating a significant boost to the regional economy.
Excavation work also prompted a large-scale reconstruction of 25 kilometres of underground water pipelines across the Piana di Catania plain. The intervention, carried out by Webuild, RFI, and Consorzio di Bonifica, replaced ageing irrigation systems with new corrosion- and impact-resistant pipes, helping to reduce water loss and improve local infrastructure resilience.
Strategic role within the TEN-T network
The Palermo–Catania high-capacity railway is a key component of the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), linking Helsinki to Valletta through Italy’s core transport corridors. By improving speed, reliability, and interconnectivity, the project contributes to the European Union’s goals of promoting modal shift from road to rail, cutting emissions, and enhancing cross-border trade.
Webuild’s growing presence in Sicily
Webuild is currently involved in seven major infrastructure projects across Sicily — six along the Palermo–Catania–Messina railway corridor and one on the Ragusana Motorway. Together, these projects are expected to generate around 7,000 jobs, including direct and indirect employment.
As of September 2025, approximately 4,450 people were working on Webuild’s Sicilian sites, and the company has collaborated with 2,700 suppliers since the start of its operations. In the first nine months of 2025, Webuild’s regional construction sites recorded 770 new hires, underlining the group’s commitment to driving employment and local development.
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