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Anti-Covid barriers are about to loosen against filling high speed trains. The objective of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is to increase the level of capacity allowed in the wagons, taking it from 50 to 80 percent of the total, as has already happened with local public transport and regional trains. Italo and Trenitalia have sent us a whole series of proposals that we have carefully evaluated in recent days, some of these we have integrated and others seem suitable to guarantee the safety of passengers with a greater filling of the wagons “, the minister explained yesterday . Paola De Micheli. In this way, the two carriers, which must compensate for the loss of passengers linked to Covid-19, will at least be able to refuel passengers on the most demanded routes.
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Today, high-speed trains accelerate on average with a third of the seats occupied: if the rules do not change, Italo will progressively cut connections starting next week and does not rule out the suspension of activities in November. In the first half of the year, the group lost 200 million euros, which could become 500 by the end of the year if nothing changes. 1,500 jobs at risk, 5,000 with related industries.
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The coronavirus spared no one. Trenitalia with its Frecce, however, responded to the restrictions by increasing supply and preparing a flexible plan that partially withstood the impact of the crisis. The number of trains in circulation on the busiest routes, from Rome-Milan to Turin-Milan-Naples-Salerno, has been better modulated, increasing the number of arrows in service on the Adriatica line and focusing on the Turin-Reggio Calabria line and other routes. . Ultimately, the railroads advanced and were profitable, probably also because they have more resources. As is known, the anti-Covid restrictions on high-speed trains are currently more severe than those in force for airplanes and local public transport. At high altitudes, the spacing ended in the cellar as early as this summer, in part because air filtration systems offer, according to experts, greater guarantees than those in operation in other modes of transport and in part because there are numerous Heavy carriers, like Ryanair, had even threatened to abandon the fleet if the empty seat strategy was not shelved. Result, today you can travel side by side on a plane. As for local public transport, it is allowed to fill vehicles up to 80% of total capacity.
And the same happens with regional trains based on the new guidelines to contain the spread of Covid-19 attached to the Prime Minister’s Decree of September 7, approved by the Regions. 80% will be reached by occupying all seats and limiting the number of standing. So, at this moment, MIT is discussing with the Ministry of Health and with the Scientific Technical Committee to see if even on long-distance trains it is possible to increase the filling without taking risks. However, it will be difficult to return to its maximum capacity: the Dpcm of July 14, which had in fact put an end to the distancing in the trains, raised numerous protests this summer, in addition to criticism from CTS experts, so much so that in the end is the minister intervened Roberto Speranza, restoring in agreement with the minister Paola De Micheli the obligation for convoys to travel half empty. Counterorder that Italo cost just a month ago about 3 million euros between cancellations and returns, since after the change in trend, the company was forced to cancel a large racing package.
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In short, in these hours we are looking for a middle ground capable of satisfying all the parties involved. The most likely hypothesis is that the same identified solution is adopted for LPT and regional trains. However, certain conditions must be met, from the use of a suitable air filtration system to the mandatory use of the surgical mask. But not only. The Porta Pia ministry is also evaluating the possibility of granting new support to Trenitalia and Italo, after 70 million euros were allocated for the year 2020 and 80 million euros annually from 2021 to 2034 to help both. companies to face the losses caused by the emergency and a 30% drop in passengers.
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