Italian transport minister opens new line in Sicily

 A new 10km section of railway between Campofelice di Roccella and Ogliastrillo on the Palermo - Messina main line in Sicily was opened on October 16 by the minister of infrastructure and transport Mr Graziano Delrio, and the CEOs of Italian Rail Network (RFI), Mr Maurizio Gentile, and Italferr Mr Carlo Carganico.

The €200m project was designed by Italferr and implemented by RFI, and involved building a new line alongside the existing single-track railway.
The new section includes the 4km Monte Poggio Maria tunnel, and has eliminated eight level crossings. The scheme is part of the planned doubling of the Fiumetorto - Castelbuono section, which envisages a total investment of €940m.

Upgrading of the Messina - Palermo main line represents a global investment of €1.63bn and includes 19.6km of track doubling, elimination of level crossings, construction of three new stations at Imera, Liscari, and Cefalù, modification of Fiumetorto station, and construction of a 5km tunnel and 1km viaduct.

“The entry into operation of the new stretch between Campofelice di Roccella and Ogliastrillo is part of a wide range of interventions in Sicily, which sees us committing to a €15bn investment over the next 10 years,” Gentile says.