The works of the Italian Railway Network continue at full speed with the technical direction of FS Engineering (both companies of the FS Group) for the major works in Southern Italy. Today the excavation of the first tube of the Forza D’Agrò tunnel was completed, as part of the doubling works between Giampilieri and Fiumefreddo, on the Palermo-Catania-Messina line.
The excavation started in November 2024 from the S. Alessio construction site, the “Alessia” TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) advanced for approximately 2.5 km of tunnel towards Catania. Once the excavation is completed, we will proceed with the translation of the TBM onto the Fondaco Parrino viaduct to start excavating the tube – still in the direction of Catania – of the 3,800 meter Letojanni Tunnel.
The doubling project between Giampilieri and Fiumefreddo, among the interventions to strengthen the Palermo-Catania-Messina connection, entrusted by RFI to a Consortium made up of the companies Webuild Italia SpA – Impresa Pizzarotti SpA, will complete the doubling of the railway line between Messina and Catania, through the construction of 42 km of new double track, of which approximately 37 km underground and as a variant of the current line.
The Giampilieri – Fiumefreddo doubling project is among the most challenging of the Messina-Catania-Palermo route, and will make it possible to increase the capacity and speed of the line and to guarantee greater regularity for trains traveling between Messina and Catania, a connection which is an integral part of the European TEN-T Scandinavia-Mediterranean railway corridor.
The value of the investment for the doubling of the Giampilieri-Fiumefreddo is approximately 2.3 billion euros, also with PNRR funds. The interventions will allow us to increase freight traffic and improve the mobility of Sicilian travellers, reducing travel times between Messina and Catania by 30 minutes and creating the conditions to also develop a metropolitan-type service.
The project for the completion of the doubling of the Messina-Catania line is divided into two lots: the first, from Fiumefreddo to Taormina, develops along a 13.9 km route with two viaducts (for approximately 1 km), 3 tunnels (Calatabiano, Taormina on the Catania side and Letojanni interconnection) for a total of 10.8 km, an artificial tunnel (Fiumefreddo) of 1 km, the new Taormina station and the two stops Fiumefreddo-Calatabiano and Alcantara-Giardini Naxos.
The second, from Taormina to Giampilieri, includes 28 km of new double track line, with 6 viaducts for approximately 2 km, 8 tunnels (Taormina Messina side, whose excavation operations are underway in traditional mode, Letojanni, Forza d’Agrò, Sciglio, Nizza, Alì, Quali and Scaletta) for approximately 25.3 km underground, 2 stations (Letojanni and Sant’Alessio-Santa Teresa), 2 stops (Nizza-Alì, Itala-Scaletta).
The activity of the other mechanical moles also continues: in Trappitello, the “Lucia” mole has been engaged in the excavation of the 6 km long, double-tube Taormina tunnel (Catania side), in Nizza di Sicilia since April 2024 the “Igea” mole has been engaged in the excavation of the Sciglio Tunnel, while the “Letteria” mole engaged in excavating the Scaletta Tunnel is also operational. In total there will be 5 moles, as part of the works to double the Giampilieri-Fiumefreddo section.
The project to upgrade the Palermo-Catania-Messina is included in Cantieri Parlanti, a project created by the FS Group in collaboration with the MIT, to transparently describe the activities and benefits of the new infrastructures through public initiatives, info points and a web page dedicated to strategic works.