| Former Dittaino-Leonforte railway | |
 | |
Location  | |
| Itinerary type | Cycle lane |
|---|---|
| State | Italy |
| Region | Sicily |
| Territory | Ennese |
| Start | I absorb |
| end | Leonforte |
| Length | 6 km |
| Time | 2 hours |
| Difference in height | 250 m |
| Difference in descent | 0 m |
Former Dittaino-Leonforte railway is a cycle route that develops between I absorb is Leonforte.
Introduction
It was a rack and pinion railway line that connected the Dittaino station to the towns of I absorb is Leonforte. According to the intentions of the designers, the line would then have to reach also Nicosia.
Geographical notes
The route consists of 6 tunnels and 4 viaducts. The first part near the Dittaino station no longer exists, only a stretch of about 6 km remains that leads up to Leonforte.
Background
The railway was designed in order to allow the movement of commuter miners who had to go to work from the various localities in the various sulfur mines scattered in the territory of the surrounding municipalities of the province of Enna. From the Dittaino station, it was possible to connect with the trains for the sulfur mines of Valguarnera, Grottacalda and Floristella.
The construction works proceeded very slowly, also due to the First World War and the works ended only with the activation of the last section up to Leonforte on 30 September 1923. The railway section had to continue up to Nicosia but despite having been all the artifacts were built and the route was never activated.
In 1959, the line was closed for operation and a replacement bus was activated in its place. The line was finally abolished in 1961. After a long abandonment, the Sicilian Region prepared a project for the recovery of the track as a cycle path (from 2005) but it was never built.
When to go
The itinerary can be done all year round. However, purely summer days are not recommended, because of the strong heat (there are many climbs), and when it rains because it is very easy for the ground to turn into mud and sudden landslides are also possible.
Who is it for?
Being a planned cycle route, it is aimed at those who own a mountain bike as the route is almost entirely unpaved, except for the urban sections. The slopes are constant and require some training. However, given the length it can also be covered on foot, in this case the physical difficulties decrease but obviously the travel times increase.
How to get
By car
From the highway 
take the Dittaino junction and continue towards Assoro. The car can be left at the beginning of the existing track.
Remember that the route is not marked, therefore you must rely exclusively on the GPS signal.
On the train
The train from Catania or Palermo to get off at the Dittaino station and from there ride your bike along the SP 7 / B.
Stages
Ex Dittaino-Leonforte railway: full-screen map.As already written, the railway is not complete and the walkable route begins at the 1 first gallery.
After the first gallery you will find one of the 2 former railway toll booths, reduced to ruins.
After the second gallery there is a 3 bridge which crosses the former track. At this point you reach the third tunnel, once passed you pass an intersection with an asphalted road and then reach the 4 first railway viaduct.
Proceeding in the ascent you reach the 5 second viaduct, perhaps the most spectacular where it is possible to glimpse the panorama on the track and see the nearby towns facing south.
After the last gallery the 6 path becomes asphalted as it crosses the streets of I absorb. Here we can decide to make a detour to visit the city, although to reach the center it will be necessary to make a detour and face other rather steep climbs. However, the effort will be rewarded by a pleasant old town and a fantastic view from above.
If you opt to continue along the path once you enter via San Giuseppe, you will turn right into via del Bevaio and then turn left into via Provinciale or SP 7 / B which we will follow until we reach the first hairpin bend where there will then be a crossbar where we can re-enter the track. This short detour (you will notice that the railway line begins shortly before) is necessary due to the poor maintenance of the short stretch, surrounded by spontaneous vegetation.
From here you come to 7 the last viaduct, certainly the longest and most beautiful, with a semicircular conformation and several arches.
The 8 track ends with the placing on viale delle Scienze o 
now at the entrance of Leonforte. From here the route is basically finished. Part of the route was canceled and ran parallel to the provincial road. The last dirt section can be found immediately after the cemetery. However, we strongly advise against this possibility as the remaining track is in poor ground conditions, so much so that it cannot be traveled on the bicycle, and is invaded by waste.
It is therefore advisable to end the tour at 9 the disused building of the old station of Leonforte today in via Dalmazia.
Safety
The route has been abandoned for years, therefore both the viaducts and the tunnels can be subject to subsidence or collapse. It is always recommended to keep the utmost caution when traveling along it.
Several sections are invaded by scrub, parts of the ground that are disconnected, while in the tunnels there are often debris.
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Former Dittaino-Leonforte railway
Commons contains images or other files on Former Dittaino-Leonforte railway
