Metropolitana di Catania
Encyclopedia
The Catania Metro is a metro
system serving the city of Catania
in Sicily
, southern Italy
and the southern most metro in Europe.
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 because the line is single-track for
almost half its length (between stations Galatea
and Porto
), hence trains operate as shuttles.
and Porto
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. 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.
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 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 is planned eventually to reach Catania's
Fontanarossa airport
to the south http://web.tiscali.it/andreacatania/catania/metro.html.
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 under construction as far as Nesima, toward the north-western border of the city.
The completion and inauguration of the section from Piazza Stesicono to Nesima is planned for between the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system serving the city of Catania
Catania
Catania is an Italian city on the east coast of Sicily facing the Ionian Sea, between Messina and Syracuse. It is the capital of the homonymous province, and with 298,957 inhabitants it is the second-largest city in Sicily and the tenth in Italy.Catania is known to have a seismic history and...
in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, southern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the southern most metro in Europe.
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
Borgo metro station
Borgo metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro and the FCE Line to Riposto.-External links:...
and Galatea
Galatea metro station
Galatea metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro....
).
Service frequency is limited to once every 15 minutes because the line is single-track for
almost half its length (between stations Galatea
Galatea metro station
Galatea metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro....
and Porto
Porto metro station
Porto metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro.-External links:...
), hence trains operate as shuttles.
Construction history
The section of the line between the stations of BorgoBorgo metro station
Borgo metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro and the FCE Line to Riposto.-External links:...
and Porto
Porto metro station
Porto metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro.-External links:...
originally belonged to the
Circumetnea
Ferrovia Circumetnea
The Ferrovia Circumetnea is a 950 mm gauge narrow-gauge regional railway line in Sicily...
narrow-gauge regional railway which was constructed in 1895.
The line was converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this 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. 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.
Current status and planned extensions
and therefore does not reach many popular destinations. Another reason for this is the service
frequency limit of 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 is planned eventually to reach Catania's
Fontanarossa airport
Catania-Fontanarossa Airport
-See also:*Palermo Airport Falcone e Borsellino - also known as Punta Raisi Airport, another of Sicily's international airports* Trapani Birgi Airport Vincenzo Florio - another of Sicily's international airports...
to the south http://web.tiscali.it/andreacatania/catania/metro.html.
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 under construction as far as Nesima, toward the north-western border of the city.
The completion and inauguration of the section from Piazza Stesicono to Nesima is planned for between the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015.
List of Catania metro stations
- BorgoBorgo metro stationBorgo metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro and the FCE Line to Riposto.-External links:...
- GiuffridaGiuffrida metro stationGiuffrida metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro....
- ItaliaItalia metro stationItalia metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro.-External links:...
- GalateaGalatea metro stationGalatea metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro....
- F.S. Stazione CentraleCatania Centrale railway stationCatania Centrale is the main railway station of the Italian city of Catania, in Sicily. Along with Palermo Centrale, Messina Centrale and Syracuse it is one of the most important stations of its region. It is owned by the Ferrovie dello Stato, the national rail company of Italy.-History:The station...
- PortoPorto metro stationPorto metro station is located in Catania in Sicily, southern Italy. It is served by the Catania Metro.-External links:...