Metropolitana di Catania

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The Metropolitana di Catania is a subway system serving the city of Catania in Sicily. It has been in operation since June 27, 1999 and consists of single line approximately 4 km long. The line is underground for most of its length (between the stations of Borgo and Galatea). Service frequency is limited to once every 15 minutes due to the fact that the line is single-track for almost half its length (between stations Galatea and Porto), hence trains operate as shuttles.

1 Construction history
2 Current status and planned extensions
- 2.1 List of Catania metro stations
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Construction history

The section of the line between the stations of Borgo and F.S. Centrale originally belonged to the Circumetnea narrow-gauge regional railway which was constructed in 1895. The line was converted to standard gauge and moved underground in a cut-and-cover tunnel except for the part of the route adjacent to the coast which remained on the surface. Another stretch of rail extends the line to the south from F.S. Centrale (the Central railway station of Catania) to the Porto station, at the port of the city. The original terminal of the Circumetnea at F.S. Centrale was moved to Borgo.

The Metropolitana and the Circumetnea are operated by the same company, which has its offices at Catania Borgo.

[edit] Current status and planned extensions

Geographically accurate diagram of the Catania Metro

The metro currently suffers from poor ridership, as its current route merely skirts the city centre and therefore does not reach many popular destinations. Another reason for this is the service frequency limit of up to one train every 15 minutes, imposed by the single track.

An extension to the system was given the green light on March 30, 2006. It involves a branch from the existing line at Galatea westward through the city Center, which will eventually reach the Fontanarossa airport of Catania to the south [1]. This solution was favored over proposals for an airport link by means of a new station on the Catania-Siracusa line, which runs past the airport and is part of the national rail network. New underground stations at Piazza Giovanni XXIII and Piazza Stesicoro, among others, will serve the city center.

Another extension, westward from the current terminal at Borgo, using the current Circumetnea right-of-way, is also being considered.