Route Sicily Eastern Coast: Messina To Catania & Bicocca / Stunning Italian Coastal Route

Good afternoon everyone! Coming back today to my beloved homeland, moving far south than usual, to the beautiful southern island: Sicily! Why want to suggest you the Messina-Syracuse Railway(also known as "Ionian ridge route"), focusing on its Messina-Catania stretch. The route starts from Messina, heading south along a flat and straight coastal stretch. Then crosses a rugged central section, squeezed between the Sicilian Pennines and coastline; continuing beneath the imposing Mount Etna slopes, reaching Catania, our final destination. From those ferry docks to the mainland, passing through breathtaking sections, rounding capes, crossing tunnels, bridges, trenches and seawalls, sneaking through farmlands/orchards to destination! Along the way, you'll be responsible for local suburban, regio and regioexpress services between the two cities, as well as some daily Intercity Day/Night runs. Plus some freight/shunting action. This is my Sicily Eastern Coast: Messina to Catania & Bicocca!

GENERAL FEATURES

- Night trains (TSW premiere).
- Ferry rail operations (TSW premiere).

- 93km(58mi) mainline length + 7.5km(4.7mi) suburban/freight extension.
- Double/single track, standard gauge (1435 mm/4 ft 8+1⁄2 in), electrified 3kV DC OHLE (depends on sections).

- 10-12‰(1:100-1:83) max gradient.
- 150 km/h(93mph) max speed, 95-110 km/h(59-68mph) average speed.

- SCMT (Train Operation Control System), as safety system.
- GSM-R (GSM F) as comm. system.

Licences involved:
- RFI s.p.a. (network owner).
- Trenitalia s.p.a. [reported TI].
- Mercitalia Rail s.r.l. [reported MIR].
- Mercitalia Shunting & Terminal s.r.l. [reported MIST].

STATIONS

This route includes 34 active stations/stops + 1 closed.

The calls are, as follows:

- Messina Centrale / Messina Marittima
- Fiumara Gazzi
- Contesse
- Tremestieri
- Mili Marina
- Galati
- Ponte S.Stefano
- Ponte Schiavo
- San Paolo
- Giampilieri
- Scaletta Zanclea
- Alì Terme
- Nizza di Sicilia
- Roccalumera-Mandanici
- Furci
- S.Teresa di Riva
- S.Alessio Siculo-Forza d'Agrò
- Letojanni
- Taormina-Giardini
- Alcantara
- Calatabiano
- Fiumefreddo Sicilia
- Mascali
- Giarre-Riposto
- Carruba
- Guardia-Mangano-S.Venerina
- Acireale
- Cannizzaro
- Catania Ognina
- Catania Picanello
- Catania Europa
- Catania Centrale
- Catania Acquicella (closed).
- Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa
- Bicocca

ROUTE PLAN


Top: General view of the route: main stations/points are indicated. North on right!
Bottom: Messina facilities detail.

PASSENGER SERVICE

REGIONAL (mid-range/local)

97: Messina-Catania-Syracuse (R/RV)
a) R/RV Messina C.le<->Catania C.le/Syracuse, 2Tph each direction [stopper/semi-fast].
b) R Messina C.le<->Giampilieri, 1Tp2h each direction [local stopper].
c) R Taormina-Giardini/others<->Syracuse, 1Tph each direction [stopper].
d) R Catania C.le<->Catania Airport, 1/2Tph each direction [shuttle].

INTERCITY (long range)

IC Rome Termini<->Siracusa, 2Tpd (1+1).
IC Rome Termini<->Palermo C.le, 2Tpd (1+1) (AI Only).
ICN Rome Termini<->Syracuse/Palermo C.le, 4Tpd (2+2).
ICN Milan C.le<->Syracuse, 2Tpd (1+1).

Plus some occasional heritage railtours/thematic services: Sicilia Express or "La Dolce Vita" Orient Express!

FREIGHT SERVICE

Limited to Bicocca Interporto<->Messina sidings.

Sector involved: intermodal.

Plus some freight shunting at Messina & Bicocca, as well as ferries operations!

8/10Tpd (mainline).

ROLLING STOCK

REGIONAL

- ETR 104 Coradia Stream "Pop" EMU & HTR 412 Hitachi "Blues" Tri-mode HMU.

Workhorses of the route.

LOCO-HAULED

- Type MU FS WLABm & Type X UIC T4 Bc IC sleeper coaches.

Good, old sleeper stock!

TRACTION

- E.464 FS "Lavatrice" & E.652 FS "Tigre" DC locos & D.145 2000 series "Aragosta" Diesel-electric heavy shunter.

Everything you need to power up things.

Please, put your LIKE here first, Thank You!

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LAMPOIL

This proposal respects all the DTG process points, except for licensing/access, which remains a big question mark! TT is not excessively packed, still enjoyable & articulated, thought (we're on an island!).

STATIONS PICS


Up: Messina Centrale/Marittima main terminal.
Down left: The "Mosaic Hall".
Down right: Tremestieri stop.


A) Galati station.
B) Giampilieri station.
C) Alì Terme station.
D) S.Teresa di Riva station.


Up: Taormina-Giardini station(most iconic).
Down left: The "Royal Chamber"(1st cl. waiting room).
Down right: Letojanni station.


A) Alcantara station.
B) Giarre-Riposto station.
C) Acireale station.
D) Catania Picanello stop.


Up: Catania Centrale main station.
Down left: Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa stop (airport link).
Down right: Bicocca station.

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ROUTE VIDEOS


Messina Centrale shunting & ferry boarding operations!


Taormina-Giardini trainspotting.


Rails around Catania.

IMAGES


A) Messina & its Harbor, the "strait" & Calabrian coast on background.
B) Ferries boarding terminal & its "arch".
C) DL Messina depot(EMUs/locos).
D) Upper Scaletta & its castle, S.Placido Battery downwards.


A) Cape Alì seaside(note our track & seawall).
B) The so-called "Fiumara"(wide gravel bed, direct outlet at sea), typical local formations.
C) Eastern Sicily Riviera(Sant'Alessio here), our main route setting.
D) Cape Sant'Alessio & its castle.


A) Letojanni Bay view.
B) Mazzarò & Taormina Bay, famous for its alcoves & sea caves.
C) Taormina(no introduction required), Naxos Bay in the background.
D) Giardini-Naxos seafront.


A) Eastern Sicily landfields/orchards.
B) Mount Etna(3403m), largest active volcano in Italy; the true rockstar here!
C) Aci Castello & its fortress, Aci Trezza & the "Cyclops Rocks" in the background.
D) Catania & its Harbor.


A) "The Smokestacks" Center, Catania's seafront landmark.
B) "Marina Arches", remarkable urban rail work.
C) Fontanarossa Airport(LICC), Italy'5th.
D) Bicocca Interport, route's freight terminal.

Enjoyed my suggestion? Leave your thoughts below here, if you want!

Caravatt .

 

I think that would be great

 

Good afternoon and happy Saturday everyone!

Just wanted to introduce this additional unit, that may be operate some services on this route(driveable/AI Only):

- ALe/ALn 501-502 Coradia Meridian "Minuetto" EMU/DMU.

Both full electric & diesel-electric variant (depends on areas/services).

Hope this was helpful! Have a great weekend .