Trains in Sicily

In Sicily, the rail network is good on a few lines between the main cities (Palermo-Messina-Catania), and for serving the tourist coastal towns on them (Taormina, Milazzo, Cefalù).
On secondary routes, buses are generally preferable to trains, the latter often being very slow, although inexpensive. Works often lead to substitutions by buses (for example, from 13 June to 31 July 2021 on the Catania-Syracuse line).

The regional rail network is operated by Trenitalia, except for the railway around Etna, operated by Circumetnea.
In summer, the Barocco Line (operated by Trenitalia) allows you to discover the Val di Noto with stops at Syracuse, Fontane Bianche, Avola, Noto, Pozzallo, Scicli, Modica, Ragusa Ibla, Ragusa, Donnafugata.

Map of the rail network in Sicily

Main train travel times

• Palermo – Trapani: 3h49
• Palermo – Agrigento: 3h 29
• Palermo – Catania: 2h 56
• Palermo – Caltanissetta: 1h 42
• Messina – Palermo: 2h 48
• Messina – Catania: 1h14
• Messina – Syracuse: 3h30
• Enna – Caltanissetta: 36 min
• Enna – Catania: 1h14
• Enna – Palermo: 1h 50
• Trapani – Marsala: 31 min
• Palermo – Punta Raisi: 56 min
• Palermo – Termini Imerese: 32 min
• Palermo – Cefalù: 45 min
  
  

Reaching Palermo Borsellino-Falcone airport

2 trains per hour connect each day the railway station in central Palermo (Palermo Centrale) to the airport, and vice-versa, in 56 minutes for the direct journey, 71 minutes for the one with stops. First departure from Palermo Centrale at 4am, last at 10:09pm. First departure from the airport 5:15am, the last at 0:25am.

The bus is often the most practical solution for reaching the airport from Palermo central station, making several stops in Palermo, for a duration of 50 minutes (company website)

Information

Links and sources

• Trenitalia, www.thetrainline.com, newsicilia.it
• Barocco Line: www.fondazionefs.it
• Circumetnea: www.circumetnea.it
• Connections with Palermo airport: www.aeroporto.net