Regions demand ministry action over rail 'dysfunction'

(see related) (ANSA) - ROME, JAN 15 - Italy's conference of regions on Wednesday demanded the transport and infrastructure ministry take action following a wave of recent technical problems and breakdowns that have caused delays, cancellations and disruption on the nation's rail network.
    "We are very concerned about the repeated episodes which, in the light of their concatenation, do not appear to be isolated and random," Fulvio Bonavitacola, Coordinator of the Infrastructure, Mobility and Territorial Governance Commission of the Conference of Regions, told ANSA.
    "Clear structural dysfunctions are coming to light.
    "Clarity is needed on whether the network is actually able to withstand the new traffic loads.
    "(Railway company) FS must say something about the causes and remedies to put in place to put an end to this now pathological bulletin of delays.
    "And the Ministry of Infrastructure must also show signs of life given its direct competences and responsibilities in this matter.
    "It cannot use bad luck as an excuse; we are not dealing with natural disasters, but with man-made phenomena". (ANSA).