This is the main project in the railway doubling works entrusted by RFI to TCG, worth over 400 million
Approximately 6.7 km of tunnel excavated and lined using the Margherita TBM, in addition to the 4 km already completed for the S. Ambrogio tunnel
Cefalù, 30 January 2026 – Toto Costruzioni today completed the excavation of the Cefalù tunnel in the direction of Messina (odd track) on the construction site for the doubling of the Cefalù/Ogliastrillo – Castelbuono railway line on the Palermo-Messina route. The works, worth over €400 million, were awarded by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (FS Group) to Toto Costruzioni Generali (TCG).
The new tunnel, with a length of 6,680 metres, was excavated and entirely lined with the aid of the Margherita TBM, a mechanical boring machine approximately 10 metres in diameter and 140 metres in length, employing over 100 highly specialised TCG workers in tight shifts, seven days a week. This is the first of two parallel tunnels that will make up the Cefalù Tunnel, for a total of 13.4 km of excavation and lining.
The completion of the odd track represents a fundamental step forward in the doubling of the entire railway line, a strategic project for the enhancement of Sicilian rail mobility and for the quality of connections between Palermo airport and one of Sicily’s main tourist centres. The “Margherita” TBM – a shielded cutter capable of operating in two configurations, “open” or “closed” – enabled the Toto Group company to complete approximately 6.7 km of excavation and lining in complex geological conditions, ensuring high standards of safety, precision and adaptability. The 21,255 reinforced concrete lining segments, weighing up to 10 tonnes each and installed in the tunnel, were produced in a special TCG prefabrication plant in Ogliastrillo, at the tunnel entrance.
«This result confirms the excellent synergy established with the client RFI, with whom we share a vision, focus on safety and objectives», said Alfonso Toto, Chief of Strategy at TCG. «This relationship, combined with the experience of our team, has enabled the Margherita TBM to operate with maximum efficiency, allowing us to overcome unexpected events and achieve a fundamental project milestone. Today’s result is the outcome of the professionalism of our technicians and workers and the industrial model we built together for this project».
«The excavation of the odd-numbered tube presented geological and operational challenges that we tackled with commitment, expertise and constant technical optimisation», added Gianluca Cangemi, General Manager of TCG. «The expertise gained from this first underground ‘journey’ will now be invaluable for
the excavation of the even-numbered tube, which will run parallel to the newly completed tunnel. This is a route already familiar to TBM technicians and operators, which will allow us to tackle this further challenge at a faster pace and with our usual attention and efficiency».
Next to the Cefalù Tunnel, Toto has already completed approximately 4 kilometres of the Sant’Ambrogio Tunnel, a single-tube, double-track tunnel, on the same lot. This achievement confirms the executive capacity and experience gained by Toto Costruzioni Generali, which employs a total of over 350 skilled workers, technicians, engineers and labourers in Cefalù for excavation, precast segment production, logistics, safety and plant management activities.
With the breakthrough in the direction of Messina, the Cefalù Tunnel adds a crucial piece to the completion of the entire railway doubling project, mainly underground, which will bring lasting benefits to regional mobility, service quality and the quality of life of residents along one of the island’s main ridges.
