Catania Metro train at Giovanni XXIII station
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Overview | |||
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Locale | Catania, Sicily, Italy | ||
Transit type | Rapid transit/metro | ||
Number of lines | 1 | ||
Number of stations | 11 | ||
Website | www.circumetnea.it | ||
Operation | |||
Began operation | 27 June 1999 | ||
Operator(s) | Ferrovia Circumetnea | ||
Number of vehicles | 8 FCE M.88 | ||
Technical | |||
System length | 8.8 km (5.5 mi) | ||
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
Electrification | 3 kV DC overhead line | ||
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Elettrotreno FCE M.88 | |
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In service | 2008–present |
Manufacturer | Firema Trasporti S.p.A. |
Constructed | 2008–2011 |
Number under construction | 14 two-car trains |
Number built | 8 |
Formation | 2-car permanently coupled sets |
Capacity | 442 |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | aluminum |
Doors | 8 sets per car |
Electric system(s) | 3000 V DC overhead pantograph |
The Catania Metro (Italian: Metropolitana di Catania) is a classical metro system serving the city of Catania, Sicily, in southern Italy. It is the southernmost metro in Europe.
The Catania Metro is in operation since 27 June 1999.
The section of the line between the stations of Borgo and Porto originally belonged to the Ferrovia Circumetnea narrow-gauge regional railway which opened to traffic in 1895.
For the operation of the metro, this portion of the rail line was converted to standard gauge and mostly moved underground into a double track 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi)cut-and-cover tunnel, except for the part of the route adjacent to the coast which runs on the surface for 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) and which is single tracked. Thus, the narrow-gauge Circumetnea railway's original terminus at Catania Porto had to be moved to Borgo due to the development of the Catania Metro.
The Metropolitana and the Circumetnea railways are operated by the same company, which has its offices at Catania Borgo.
During the first years of operation, this metro suffered for poor ridership, as its former route (from 1999 to 2016) merely skirted the city centre and therefore didn't reach many popular destinations, but ridership increased a lot in 2017. The metro only operates on weekdays, and does not run on public holidays. There's one ride every 10 minutes until 3:00 p.m. and then one ride every 15 minutes until the end of the service, at 9.24 p.m.