After years of waiting and endless travel, Sicily takes a historic step in the field of transport. From 2 November 2025 the new direct rail connection between Palermo and Catania will finally be active, which will reduce the travel time to 2 hours and 57 minutes. A milestone that marks the beginning of a new era for mobility on the island, where so far the train journey between the two cities lasts over six hours. A true odyssey.
A new high-capacity route
The improvement is due to the opening of the Bicocca-Catenanuova section, a 38 kilometer double track segment designed with the most advanced European railway technologies. The work, worth over 600 million euros, is part of the broader plan to upgrade the Palermo-Catania-Messina route, also supported by Pnrr funds. In total the project includes 179 km of line of which 128 km in tunnels, with the aim of creating a faster, more efficient and sustainable network.
The new line is equipped with an ERTMS level 2 signaling system, the same used for national high-speed lines. This technology guarantees greater safety, punctuality and centralized control of railway flows. Thanks to the new computerized system installed at the Bicocca station, it will be possible to monitor traffic in real time and intervene quickly if necessary.
A network that connects Sicily to Europe
The work is part of the European TEN-T Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor, which aims to connect the large cities of Southern Italy with the rest of the continent. By 2030, travel time between Palermo and Catania should be further reduced to two hours flat, with rapid connections also extended to Messina. At the same time, work continues on the Giampilieri-Fiumefreddo section which will complete the Sicilian high-capacity network.
A driving force for development and employment
The project also has a significant impact on an economic and social level. Thousands of workers and local businesses are involved in the construction of the construction sites, with specialized training programs and investments in human capital. The new railway, in addition to reducing travel times and costs, promises to become a development engine for logistics, tourism and the competitiveness of the island. The new Palermo-Catania connection thus finally becomes the symbol of a Sicily that starts again, faster, more connected and finally closer to the rest of Italy.
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