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An Overview on Railway Impacts on Coastal Environment and Beach Tourism in Sicily (Italy)

Author

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  • Irene Cinelli

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Firenze, Via Micheli 6, 50121 Firenze, Italy)

  • Giorgio Anfuso

    (Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain)

  • Sandro Privitera

    (Centre for the Conservation and Management of Nature and Agroecosystems, University of Catania, CUTGANA, Via Santa Sofia 98, 95123 Catania, Italy)

  • Enzo Pranzini

    (Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Firenze, Via Micheli 6, 50121 Firenze, Italy)

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to analyze the development of the railway network in Sicily (Italy), where it runs close to the sea on two of the three sides of the island, and give an overview of the related impacts on coastal environment and tourism. In order to achieve such an objective, the impacts of the railway network were analyzed according to coastal typology (distinguishing between rocky and sandy coastal sectors) and distance from the shoreline (dividing distance values in concrete intervals). Rails were mostly emplaced in flat coastal areas due to the island’s rugged terrain: out of 1592 km of railway, ca. 350 km is located less than 1000 m from the shoreline (123 km on rocky sectors and 227 km on beaches and coastal plains). On sandy beaches and low sandy coastal sectors, approximately 6 km of track is within 25 m from the shoreline, a value rising to 16 km if a 50 m distance is considered, 48 km at 100 m and 103 km at 200 m distance. In correspondence of rocky platforms and high cliffed sectors, data reported for short distances between the rail and the shore are similar to ones observed along sandy coastal sectors, but differ when distance increases, i.e., there is only 32 and 47 km of railway respectively within 100 and 200 m from the shoreline. The emplacement of the railway embankment on beaches and dunes favored coastal squeeze and enhanced coastal erosion due to wave reflection on the embankment, which had to be protected by hard structures. Impacts on rocky sectors, with respect to beach and dune systems, are generally low because such sectors are usually stable (they do not need to be protected), less attractive to tourists and present small urban development. Tourism was affected by reducing landscape quality, beach access and width. More detailed studies and monitoring programs are necessary to locally assess the detailed impacts of the railway network, with this study constituting a preliminary but useful approximation to determine which coastal sectors are potentially the most affected. Results obtained in this paper can stimulate similar researches in other countries to prevent or decrease railway impacts on “Sun, Sea and Sand” tourism and, in general, on the coastal environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Irene Cinelli & Giorgio Anfuso & Sandro Privitera & Enzo Pranzini, 2021. "An Overview on Railway Impacts on Coastal Environment and Beach Tourism in Sicily (Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-18, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7068-:d:580763
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Florentina-Cristina Merciu & Cornel Păunescu & Mircea Dorobanţu & George-Laurenţiu Merciu, 2022. "Assessing the Value of Railway Heritage for Sustainable Development: The Case Study of the Oraviţa–Anina Railway, Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-43, October.
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    5. Alexis Mooser & Giorgio Anfuso & Enzo Pranzini & Angela Rizzo & Pietro P. C. Aucelli, 2023. "Beach Scenic Quality versus Beach Concessions: Case Studies from Southern Italy," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-26, January.

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