NEW PALERMO–CATANIA LINK. CATENANUOVA–FIUMETORTO SECTION The scenario of the new Palermo–Catania link consists in:  A first macro-phase with a new TSI/passenger-freight track as a variant from Fiumetorto to Catenanuova over an approx. distance of 149 Km divided into six functional lots, the completion of which is forecast to occur in 2025;  A second macro-phase of work on the existing line, intended to achieve STI2014, category P5 passengers specialisation, with ‘disseminated’ interventions for track speeding-up, upgrading of station platforms, removal of all level crossings, and technological overhaul of the tunnels, the completion of which is forecast to occur in 2028. The Full Life Cost of the investment is 5,185 M€ (of which 2,923 M € are from funding). The completion of the works along the whole route will create the conditions for reducing travel time between Palermo and Catania from the current 2h 47’ to 1h 46’. Italferr is currently developing the final design of each single functional lot.

MESSINA–CATANIA ROUTE. DOUBLING OF THE GIAMPILIERI–FIUMEFREDDO SECTION The project envisages:  Doubling of the track as a variant between Giampilieri and Fiumefreddo for a section about 42 km long, of which 85% running through tunnels;  Construction of the new stops: Fiumefreddo-Calatabiano, Sant’Alessio-Santa Teresa, Alcantara-Giardini Naxos, Taormina, Nizza-Alì and Itala-Scaletta. Two functional phases are planned:  1st phase : doubling of the Fiumefreddo-Taormina–Letojanni section, included between the new PM (shunting yard) of Fiumefreddo and Taormina (i) that connects to the historical line via the Letojanni junction;  2nd phase : doubling of the Taormina–Giampilieri section. The Full Life Cost of the investment is 2,300 M € (of which 872 M € for the 1 st functional lot and 1428 M € for the 2 nd functional lot). The completion of the entire double track is forecast to occur in 2028 and will allow to reduce travel time between Catania and Messina from 1h 14’ to 45‘. Italferr has completed the final design of the entire project regarding which the High Council of Public Works expressed its opinion in May 2018 and for which are under way the procedures of Environmental Impact Assessment and Conference of Services. After the awarding of the construction design and work execution activities, Italferr will carry out the verification of the construction design and of the Works Supervision activities.

CATANIA HUB The “Catania Hub” project envisages the following works: 1. Doubling of the tracks between Catania Centrale and Catania Acquicella: the work on the Messina-Siracusa section envisages the doubling and the placing underground of the existing single-track line between Catania C.le and Catania Acquicella along a distance of about 7.3 km, including the placing underground of the Catania Station, the construction of two new stops (Porto/Duomo and S. Cristoforo) and the renovation of the Acquicella stop. The Full Life Cost of the investment is 626 M €. 2. The placing underground of the line for the extension of the Fontanarossa airport runway. The Full Life Cost of the investment is 235 M€. The completion of the two projects will help achieve the following results:  Increase in capacity by means of the elimination of the ‘bottleneck’ caused by the single track;  Improved regularity in the traffic and in the city service of the Catania Centrale railway hub;  Town-planning and regional development improvements due to the freeing up of sea-front land currently occupied by the tracks of the Catania Centrale station;  Extension of the Catania Fontanarossa airport runway. Italferr ha redatto il progetto preliminare dell’intervento 1 e sta sviluppando il progetto definitivo dell’intervento 2.