The Ferrovia Circumetnea (roughly translated as "Round-Etna Railway") is a narrow-gauge, 950 mm (3 ft 1+38 in), regional railway line in Sicily. It was constructed between 1895 and 1898.

The Circumetnea line around Mount Etna
Ferrovia Circumetnea
km.0
elevation
(MASL)
0.0
Catania Porto
(closed 1993)
Catania Gaito
(closed 1993)
Catania Corso Italia
(closed 1999)
3.0
Catania Borgo
Metropolitana di Catania
53
Galleria artificiale Borgo
5.0
Cibali
Metropolitana di Catania
100
7.0
Nesima
Metropolitana di Catania
132
8.0
Lineri
165
11.0
Misterbianco
213
14.0
Piano Tavola
(Belpasso)
254
18.0
Valcorrente
263
20.0
Giaconia
297
22.0
Paternò
225
25.0
Scalilli
335
Santa Maria di Licodia Sud
29.0
Santa Maria di Licodia Centro
442
33.0
Biancavilla
508
34.0
Biancavilla (Circumetnea)
38.0
Adrano
560
39.0
Adrano Centrale
588
45.0
Passo Zingaro
688
Galleria di Roccacalanna
55.0
Bronte
under
construction
835
63.0
Maletto
924
68.0
Gurrida
870
74.0
Randazzo
(
former interchange
to Alcantara
)
753
79.0
Calderara
689
82.0
Passopisciaro-Moio
653
86.0
Solicchiata
670
Rovittello
Castiglione di Sicilia
(1926–1961)
91.0
Cerro
628
94.0
Linguaglossa
554
97.0
Terremorte
490
101.0
Piedimonte Etneo
362
104.0
Santa Venera
275
108.0
Mascali Nunziata
176
109.0
Cutula
132
Villa di Giarre
113.0
Giarre
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane
42
113.5
Riposto-Villa Comunale
35
114.0
Riposto
18

As the name suggests, the 110-kilometre (68-mile) line follows a route which almost completely encircles the Mount Etna volcano. From its terminal in Catania the line starts off westward and loops around Mount Etna in a clockwise direction (as seen on the map), eventually reaching the other terminal at the seaside town of Riposto, approximately 28 kilometres (17 miles) northeast of Catania.

The original terminal was at Catania Porto, although Catania Central (the mainline station) was the last stop for the trains. However, in the 1990s the section from there to Catania Borgo (4 kilometres (2.5 miles) long) was converted to standard gauge and moved underground for most of its length for use as a new metro (Metropolitana di Catania). The original terminus, the Porto station, was also reinstated. Therefore, the Circumetnea trains now terminate at Catania Borgo.

The Ferrovia Circumetnea (FCE) also operates the Metropolitana. The offices for both are at Catania Borgo.

FCE operates The DMU 001-004, multiple units diesel of construction Newag. They were in service with four more on order as of late 2017.[1] On 15 June 2024, the movement of trains on the Catania Borgo - Paternò route was suspended because of the upgrade works for the extension of the Metropolitana di Catania, with associated change of gauge, until Paternò. The railway services are replaced with bus services which will travel the almost parallel road route on the SS121, entering the towns at the stops to be served.

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Ferrovia Circumetnea orders more Vulcano DMUs". Railway Gazette. 4 December 2017. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
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