Palermo, 27 April 2023
Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, the head company of the FS Italiane Group’s Infrastructure Hub, has awarded the tender for the executive design and construction of the works for the Caltanissetta Xirbi-Nuova Enna functional lot – an integral part of the new Palermo-Catania-Messina rail link – to the consortium of companies comprising Webuild (head company), Ghella, Seli Overseas and TunnelPro.
The contract is worth around 1.2 billion euro, also financed by PNRR (Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan) funds.
The works consists in the construction of 27 kilometres of new track as a variant to the current line, with approximately 3 kilometres of viaducts and 4 tunnels for a total of 20 kilometres. The project even includes the renewal of the Caltanissetta Xirbi station and the construction of the Villarosa signalling control.
Filippo Palazzo was appointed Extraordinary Governmental Commissioner for completion of the works.
Upon completion of the works along the entire Palermo-Catania axis, it will be possible to travel between the two cities in under two hours. Progressive reductions in travel times are expected even prior to this date, thanks to the activation of certain stretches along the new sections. The planned interventions will also improve interconnections with inland areas of Sicily, increase the capacity of passenger and freight trains on the line, plus raise the standards of train regularity and punctuality.