Webuild inaugurated the 38-km Bicocca-Catenanuova section of the Palermo-Catania high-capacity railway, marking the first operational segment of this transformative infrastructure project in Sicily, Italy.

The project, carried out by a consortium led by Webuild and commissioned by RFI (FS Italiane Group), spans 38 km. It is part of the broader upgrade of the Palermo-Catania-Messina corridor, for which Webuild is also building six other sections. Crossing the provinces of Catania and Enna, the new open-air section has two artificial tunnels, 17 viaducts, and eight overpasses. The removal of all level crossings will improve road safety and traffic flow. The stations of Catania Bicocca, Motta Santa Anastasia, Sferro, and Catenanuova have been upgraded to accommodate the double-track railway, which will be opened for commercial service by RFI starting November 2, 2026. 

The Bicocca-Catenanuova section is a strategic part of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which will connect Helsinki, Finland, to Valletta, Malta, helping to shorten distances in Sicily as well. Once completed, the Palermo-Catania-Messina corridor, of which this new section is a part, will allow travel between Palermo and Catania in two hours, saving about 60 minutes. It will connect Messina and Catania in 45 minutes, saving about 30 minutes, and enhance freight transport by rail, contributing to the sustainability of the regional logistics system. The project also provided an opportunity to rebuild approximately 25 km of underground water pipelines across the Piana di Catania plain. Excavation work revealed a dense network of old irrigation pipes, canals, and conduits that interfered with the railway route under construction. Consorzio di Bonifica and RFI, in collaboration with Webuild, designed and implemented the renewal – funded by RFI – of part of the water network with new, modern, corrosion- and impact-resistant pipes, eliminating water dispersion.