Palermo - Catania - Messina HC Railway line, Bicocca - Catenanuova Section, italy

The ambitious project to double the length of the Bicocca-Catenanuova railway line is notable for its scale, covering 37.5 km and forming part of the great Palermo-Catania railway modernisation.

From the tracks to the signalling, from the stations to the electrical substations, every aspect is being revolutionised to guarantee a state-of-the-art transport system. In fact, in addition to the track, signalling, telecommunications and electrification works to supply power to the trains, the Bicocca station will be modernised and the Motta Sant'Anastasia station will be completely rebuilt.

The works will be carried out almost entirely above ground, with the construction of viaducts up to 500 metres long crossing the Simeto and Buttaceto rivers. These are complex and extensive works, with earth movements of 1.45 million cubic metres and many small crossings.

During all this time, the traditional railway line has continued to operate without interruption.

Several benefits are expected once the work is completed: over 2 and a half million passengers a year, and over 13,000 tons of CO₂ avoided every year. The Bicocca-Catenanuova contract is part of a larger project relating to the European TEN-T corridor system, the aim of which is to improve the competitiveness of rail transport and to integrate the south-eastern railway network into the HS/HC system, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions.