One of my great rail memories in Europe is taking the Circumetna tiny train around the base of Mt Etna in Sicily. I recently read that the line was out of service and had been for some months due to i think a lava flow that destroyed a key bridge. Service was set to begin in the spring but i have no word. Buses apparently are substituting on this line which serves several large suburbs of Catania.
Any word on whether this great train line is back in service, rollicking thru bizarre lava flows that make it totally unique amongst European trains.

Hmm. Ominous silence. I hope someone comes back on this one, I'm planning a trip there soon and this was going to be on my itinerary.

ttt

You might try the official Web site:

http://www.circumetnea.it/

I finally got the Circumetnea Web site to work.

It looks as if all its routes -- with the exception of the one between Piano Tavola and Belpasso (25 minutes; no service on Sundays or holidays) -- are being done by bus.

thankx eloise - this is exactly what i read in a source several months old - it said plans were to open in a few months but apparently things have stalled. Let's just hope they do reopen this lava-flow plagued line. thanks.