Train chaos: RFI suspends contract with firm accused of malfunction

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 3 - Italian rail agency Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) on Thursday suspended a contract with Str92, the company in charge of maintenance work on the rail line Parco-Prenestino-Roma Termini that allegedly led to a malfunction in the Rome railway network which paralyzed traffic and had major national repercussions on the circulation of trains Wednesday.
    Giuseppe Proia, CEO of Str92 which is based in Fontana Liri near Frosinone, told ANSA on Thursday that the company is trying to determine "exactly what happened yesterday".
    "Before speaking, we want to have a clear picture of what occurred.
    "We have not appointed a lawyer yet and we haven't taken a decision regarding the suspension of the contract with RFI.
    The engineering company on its website lists as clients Rome's Metro C subway line and highway agency ANAS, among others.
    Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday said the huge train chaos caused by technical issues in the two Roman stations was due to a mistake made by technicians working for the private company that allegedly hammered a nail into a cable.
    On Thursday, Salvini, who was slammed by opposition members including Democratic Party (PD) leader Elly Schlein for putting the blame of the major malfunction on single workers, said he deals with "approving legislation and finding money, I don't go around hammering nails".
    "I deal with funding which in 2024 was 3.5 billion (euros) for maintenance and nine for the rail network.
    "Clearly, there was a human error, it is necessary to limit the possibility of them occurring" he said. (ANSA).