Urban Crossing of Mount Etna Rail Circuit – Section 1 of Catania Metro line

The Circumetnea is a narrow-gauge regional historic railway line connecting various towns on the slopes around Mount Etna, in Sicily, in operation since 1895.

Over the years, minor corrections of alignment have been engineered mainly to avoid damages due to lava flows intercepting the line. Also, steam trains operating during the initial years were replaced by diesel trains.

The project for modernization was started in the 1980’s with the aim of a gradual upgrade of the rail line into a double track metro with standard gauge and 3 kV cc electrification system, entirely underground from Catania to Misterbianco and from Catania to Fontanarossa international airport, and partially underground from Misterbianco to Paternò. A 10.8 km-long double-track undergroung rail and a 2.0 km-long single-track rail at grade will characterize the finished metro system. 

Section 1 of the Catania Metro line, between Nesima and Misterbianco, is part of the program and construction began at the end of 2015.