Trains, chaos at Roma Termini: delays of up to 8 hours on high-speed trains after a person was run over in Calabria

Train delays at Rome's Termini station reached a peak of eight hours due to the disruption of the rail network caused by an accident this morning in Calabria, according to billboards warning travellers. The circulation of trains, interrupted for about six hours, was restored around 3pm.

The delays are due to a person being run over this morning on the railway line between Sapri and Paola. Train 8418 left at 5.53 a.m. from Reggio Calabria Centrale and bound for Venice Santa Lucia is running 500 minutes late, over 8 hours, while train 9584 left at 6.25 a.m. from Reggio Calabria and bound for Turin Porta Nuova is running 414 minutes late, just under 7 hours. At Napoli Centrale station, delays for the affected trains are reported to be between 250 and 390 minutes.

In detail, the trains involved in the delay are: AV 8418 departed at 5.53 a.m. from Reggio Calabria Centrale and bound for Venezia Santa Lucia, AV 9584 departed at 6.25 a.m. from Reggio Calabria and bound for Torino Porta Nuova; in addition, trains AV 8134 to Torino Porta Nuova, AV 9624 to Torino Porta Nuova and AV 9588 to Torino Porta Nuova.

The Judicial Authority's findings required the total suspension of circulation until 2.50 p.m., when trains gradually resumed running. The interruption caused inconvenience for trains coming from Calabria. Travellers were constantly informed both at the station and on board the train.

"After today's new chaos on the rail front, with some trains being delayed by up to 6 hours", Assoutenti believes "a revision of the regulations on rail passengers' rights can no longer be postponed, to bring it closer to those already in force for air transport". According to the association, 'what happened today with several high-speed connections stopped or delayed for up to 360 minutes shows once again the fragility of the system'. "Today thousands of travellers were affected by the heavy disruptions in rail traffic. - explains president Gabriele Melluso - For some time we have been asking for an extraordinary plan to reduce the problems on the network and limit the inconveniences that unfortunately occur too frequently. But what is needed more than anything else is a qualitative leap in traveller protection policies. We need to elevate customer care beyond smart refunds, going beyond simple automatic refunds or compensation bonuses, which are no longer adequate to respond to the extent of the damage suffered by passengers. It is necessary to introduce automatic compensation, commensurate with the real inconvenience suffered, as already happens in air transport, so as to guarantee fair and immediate compensation to those who have seen their time, commitments and travel serenity compromised. This is the only way to re-establish a relationship of trust between travellers and the rail service'.