A major problem arose on Italy’s rail transport on Thursday as several wagons of a freight train derailed early in the morning, causing severe damage to rail infrastructure and delays on routes. There were no injuries.
The state-run Italian Railways, also known as the owner of Hellenic Train, has warned of lengthy delays on routes that could be up to three hours.
The derailment occurred near Castello station in Florence at 3:20 am Greek time (2:20 am local time), causing train traffic between Florence and Bologna to stop.
State rail operator Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) said there was damage in the crash but no one was hurt.
According to the operating company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, the infrastructure suffered serious damage. The derailed train did not belong to this company, but to a freight company.
“Rail traffic between Florence and Bologna was interrupted on both the high-speed line and the old line due to the derailment of several wagons of a freight train at Firenze Castello station,” RFI said in a statement. “The crash caused damage to infrastructure, but no consequences for people.”
The crash caused critical elements of the network’s infrastructure to fall, including pylons and towers supporting cables that provide power to trains and the line.
RFI technicians are working on repairs, but it will reportedly take time to restore the line between Florence and Prato.
“High-speed service on the Milan-Rome and Venice-Rome lines, as well as the Florence-Prato-Viarezzo regional line, has also been suspended,” RFI said in a statement. “Northward, some high-speed connections operate to Florence, and southbound to Bologna.”
“RFI, together with transport companies, is rescheduling flights and informing travelers at stations and by all available means,” the message says. “Rail traffic on the north-south highway will remain problematic for several hours with full or partial cancellation of flights until the efficiency of the infrastructure that RFI technicians are working on is restored,” he added.
Italian TV broadcast footage of the chaos at train stations across the country, with many people at stalls and platforms waiting for news, while the operating company said buses were leaving immediately to transport travelers who would be fully reimbursed for the tickets they bought. .
Source: Paradise News
Source: Kathimerini
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