The project concerns the construction works required to build the rail link between the Messina Strait Bridge infrastructure – falling under the remit of Stretto di Messina S.p.A. – and the existing railway lines on both sides of the Strait, in Calabria and Sicily.

Specifically, the following are defined:

• On Calabria’s side: Connection to the existing Battipaglia–Reggio Calabria railway line, with new branches reaching the Villa San Giovanni and Reggio Calabria stations, and a new variant to the existing line, where these new branches will be connected to.
• On Sicily’s side: Connection to the existing Messina–Catania railway line, with a branch towards Messina, achieved through a flush junction in Gazzi, and another branch towards Catania, achieved by building a curve on the new layout of the Contesse railway yard. In addition to connections to the existing rail network, the project provides for the demolition of the first section of the seaside-facing fiddle yard at the Messina Centrale station. A further project, called “Construction of the New Messina Gazzi Station”, is also planned and will be the subject of a future design study.

With effect from 12 March 2026, the date on which Decree-Law 32 (published in the Official Journal 58 of 11 March 2026) came into force, in accordance with Article 5 of that decree, the Chief Executive Officer of RFI S.p.A. has been appointed Extraordinary Commissioner.