Webuild: first section of Palermo–Catania High-Capacity Railway inaugurated, a historic step for mobility in Sicily

PRESS NOTE

WEBUILD: FIRST SECTION OF PALERMO-CATANIA HIGH-CAPACITY RAILWAY INAUGURATED, A HISTORIC STEP FOR MOBILITY IN SICILY BICOCCA-CATENANUOVA SECTION: 38 KILOMETRES OF DOUBLE-TRACK RAILWAY FOR A MORE MODERN, FASTER AND SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY ON ISLAND

Credits: Webuild Image Library

• First inaugural journey from Catania Fontanarossa Airport to Catenanuova

• Project part of TEN-T Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor

• Entirely open-air route, with two artificial tunnels, 25 viaducts and railway overpasses, eliminating all level crossings for safer and smoother road traffic

• 25 kilometres of water pipelines rebuilt in Piana di Catania

Catania, October 29, 2025 - The first section of the Palermo-Catania high-capacity railway line was inaugurated today, with the first train ride from the station at FS Catania Fontanarossa Airport to Catenanuova, marking a major milestone for mobility in Sicily and the country. The project, carried out by a consortium led by Webuild and commissioned by RFI (FS Italiane Group), spans 38 kilometres. It is part of the broader upgrade of the Palermo-Catania-Messina corridor, for which Webuild is also building six other sections.

The event was attended by Italian Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, via video link, Sicilian Region President Renato Schifani, and Special Commissioner for the project Filippo Palazzo.

Crossing the provinces of Catania and Enna, the new open-air section has two artificial tunnels, 17 viaducts and eight overpasses. The removal of all level crossings will improve road safety and traffic flow. The stations

of Catania Bicocca, Motta Santa Anastasia, Sferro, and Catenanuova have been upgraded to accommodate the double-track railway, which will be opened for commercial service by RFI starting November 2.

The Bicocca-Catenanuova section is a strategic part for the Scandinavian-Mediterranean Corridor of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which will connect Helsinki, Finland to Valletta, Malta, helping to shorten distances in Sicily as well. Once completed, the Palermo-Catania-Messina corridor, of which this new section is a part, will allow travel between Palermo and Catania in two hours, saving about 60 minutes. It will connect Messina and Catania in 45 minutes, saving about 30 minutes, and enhance freight transport by rail, contributing to the sustainability of the regional logistic system. During the construction of the Bicocca-Catenanuova section, up to 400 people were employed on-site, with over 500 partner companies involved since the start, generating a tangible and significant impact on the local economy.

The project also provided an opportunity to rebuild approximately 25 kilometres of underground water pipelines across the Piana di Catania plain. Excavation work revealed a dense network of old irrigation pipes, canals, and conduits that interfered with the railway route under construction. Consorzio di Bonifica and RFI, in collaboration with Webuild, designed and implemented the renewal - funded by RFI - of part of the water network with new, modern, corrosion- and impact-resistant pipes, eliminating water dispersion.

Webuild is active in Sicily with seven infrastructure projects: six railway projects along the Palermo-Catania-Messina corridor and one motorway on the Ragusana Motorway. These projects, including the Bicocca-Catenanuova section, are expected to generate a total of 7,000 jobs, including direct and third-party personnel. Approximately 4,450 people are already working on site, including direct and third-party personnel. Some 2,700 suppliers have been involved since the beginning of the activities. In the first nine months of 2025, Webuild's Sicilian construction sites recorded around 770 new hires.

***

Webuild is a global leader in the construction of large, complex infrastructure projects, with a focus on sustainable mobility, hydropower, water treatment, and green buildings. A recognized leader in the water sector and active in about 50 countries, the Group employs approximately 95,000 people of over 125 nationalities. It boasts nearly 120 years of experience with over 3,700 completed projects. Its track record includes 13,648 kilometres of railways, 891 kilometres of metro lines, 82,577 kilometres of roads and highways, 1,022 kilometres of bridges and viaducts, 3,462 kilometres of tunnels, and 319 dams and hydropower plants. Among its most iconic projects are the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia, the expansion of the Panama Canal, the Long Beach International Gateway bridge in California (USA), the Second Bosphorus Bridge (Turkey), the Sydney Metro Northwest skytrain viaduct and bridge (Australia), the Kingdom Centre skyscraper in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), and metro lines in cities such as Copenhagen, Paris, Rome, Milan, Naples, Doha, Thessaloniki, and Riyadh. Ongoing projects include the New Genoa Breakwater, the Brenner Base Tunnel, the Pedemontana Lombarda Highway, Metro di Roma's Line C, the Genoa-Milan and Naples-Bari high-speed/high-capacity railways, the Palermo-Catania-Messina high-capacity railway, the Snowy 2.0 hydropower scheme in Australia and the Dams System in Trojena in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As of December 31, 2024, the Group registered total revenues for €12 billion. As of June 30, 2025, its total order backlog stands at approximately €59 billion, with over 90% of its construction backlog related to projects linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Listed on the Borsa Italiana stock exchange in Milan (WBD; WBD.MI; WBD:IM), it is member of the MIB ESG index of Italian companies with best ESG practices. Headquartered in Italy, it is subject to the management and coordination of Salini Costruttori S.p.A.

More information at https://www.webuildgroup.com

‌Contacts: ‌Francesca Romana Chiarano Senior Manager - Media Relations Tel. [phone]‌‌ email: [e-mail] Umberto Lucentini Communications Manager for Sicily Tel. [phone] email: [e-mail]