The designated person in charge of media relations at the Romanian Railway Investigation Agency (AGIFER), Marian Zamfirase, on Saturday declined to provide details about the railway incident on Thursday at the Sighisoara station, during which a collision between two trains was avoided at the last moment,considering that today is Saturday afternoon and he is free.

“You know today is Saturday?” was the response of AGIFER spokesman Marian Zamfiras, before hearing the reason why he was contacted by phone, at the phone number on the institution’s website, by a News.ro reporter.

“We are fulfilling our duties defined by law. Those notes do not say that we should be available to the media. (…) The budget officer is not a servant of the mass media, the budget officer performs the work for which he was appointed,” continued Maryan Zamfirake.

When asked who has been appointed as a replacement in relations with the media, the head of the service Maryan Zamfirake answered: “No one is taking the place because it is not necessary. If you personally pay for him to be at AGIFER on Saturday and Sunday so that he is at your disposal, we may be able to appoint someone.’

In the second telephone conversation, the reporter of News.ro insists, trying to get information, and reminds Zamfiras that the Regulation on the organization and activities of AGIFER stipulates in Article 4, paragraph (2), point m) that among the powers of AGIFER, it is included “the organization and implementation of permanent communication with the public”.

“Constantly, not on weekends,” replied the AGIFER official.

“Call me at one in the morning, at two in the morning!. (…) You are not the public, you are the press,” adds Zamfirace.

He also refused to discuss the subject of the railway incident, which is to be investigated by AGIFER.

“Considering that you call me on Saturdays in my free time, when there are no urgent events to which I must answer you, and constantly communicate with the press, please stop calling me! (Do not call – no) to anyone, because there is no one, this is an institution that works like any other institution, from Monday to Friday from 8 to 15:30, on Friday to 14. You complain to me that I do not respect this regulation (organizations and activities do not) if you want to. Since you were busy working on Saturday afternoon, you can sue me if you want. There are people who work and they probably get paid for their work, so let’s volunteer, or Dachiada, whatever else you want, we’re tired of it!” – said Maryan Zamfirake.

The discussions between News.ro and Marian Zamfirake took place after Club Feroviar wrote that a collision between two trains, loaded respectively with diesel fuel and chemical fertilizers, was avoided on Thursday morning at the last moment at Sighisoara station after the driver of the GFR train fell asleep . At the same time, Club Feroviar accused CFR SA of initially trying to cover up the incident.