An important project to improve the rail link on the Catania rail bypass and ensure efficient transportation in Sicily.

The temporary joint venture, led by the Eteria Consortium, has been awarded the contract for the design and underground works on the railway line between Catania Acquicella and Bicocca on the Catania bypass by RFI. The contract is valued at over €370 million, with the Salcef Group’s share amounting to approximately €33 million.

As part of the new Palermo – Catania – Messina rail link, the project involves burying a section of the railway that interferes with the extension of the Catania-Fontanarossa airport runway. This involves building a cut-and-cover tunnel and railway cuttings spanning approximately 3 kilometers. The project also includes modifying the Catania-Syracuse link route, creating a new branch for direct connections between Syracuse and Palermo, and building the new Bicocca station, which will also house a new integrated freight terminal. The Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa stop will also be transformed into a station with the addition of a third track.

With its extensive experience in the railway infrastructure sector, the Salcef Group will be responsible for all track works, electrification and signalling on the Catania rail bypass enhancement project. The Group’s expertise and professionalism guarantee advanced technological solutions and upgraded infrastructure for a more efficient and safer rail system.

This new infrastructure will play a vital role in mobility in Catania and Sicily. It is not only essential for completing the airport’s new runway but also for enhancing the rail link with Catania Fontanarossa Airport by expanding the Aeroporto Catania Fontanarossa station, modernizing the Bicocca facility (Sicily’s main freight terminal), and adapting the railway section to meet European standards.