The black summer of transport, inconveniences and delays in August. Salvini takes action after days of silence: meeting called at the ministry

Partial interruptions, slowdowns. And delays lasting hours on all rail services, from high-speed trains to local commuter trains. Disruptions also at airports. The black summer of transport continues. From Milan to Rome, from Bologna to Venice. August starts in the worst possible way. This month, extraordinary and ordinary maintenance work is scheduled that will further disrupt the main railway lines. After days of silence (except for social media attacks Imane Khelifthe Algerian transgender boxer who is competing in the Paris Olympics), the minister Matthew Salvini – in the crosshairs of the opposition – is trying to take cover by calling an urgent meeting at the Ministry of Transport tomorrow on railway works and flights.

A note from the Ministry of Transport reads: “Tomorrow at 10:30, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini has called all parties involved in air traffic (from airlines to management companies) to the Ministry of Transport to take stock of the situation in light of the growing pressure on Italian airports and to provide maximum protection for travellers”. As for the railways, the ministry also informs, “Salvini is following with particular attention the progress of the construction sites, announced months ago in agreement with local authorities, which aim to improve the network also in light of unprecedented investments (largely foreseen by the PNRR) and before the full resumption of work activities after the summer break. Given the situation, Salvini reiterated to FS and the companies involved that maximum commitment is needed to offer a service up to par.

The oppositions

But it is already controversial. “The peak of construction on the railway network cannot justify the delirious scenes we are witnessing these days in stations all over the country. Systematic delays of 100 or 200 minutes cannot become a consolidated practice in Italy: the inconveniences are now chronic on the entire railway service, from high speed to local trains for commuters – the M5S parliamentarians of the Transport commissions of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies protest Gabriella Di Girolamo, Elena Sironi, Antonio Trevisi, Antonino Iaria, Luciano Cantone, Roberto Traversi and Giorgio Fede – It is clear that something is not working between derailments, breakdowns, cancellations, changes of route. A clarity operation is needed, because in the meantime ticket prices have recently increased, just as the former CEO of FS was being paid a million in severance pay. Salvini should take action and come to Parliament to report the summer disaster on our railways: we are making a terrible impression on the entire world, just at the time of maximum tourist influx. If Salvini is not able to clarify, we will wait for Prime Minister Meloni”.

Italia Viva also goes on the attack. The deputy Isabella De Monte comments: “Matteo Salvini talks about everything, even boxing matches at the Olympics. The leader of the League undoubtedly does many things, all except those he should do. For example, as Minister of Transport, dealing with the disastrous situation of rail traffic on the network. Delays and problems are now daily. The Prime Minister should demand from her deputy an extraordinary commitment on his delegations. Salvini should forget about the Olympics and deal with trains”. And Matthew Renzi he adds: “I thought that after the black July, things would change. And instead it’s always the same music. Yesterday the Rome-Florence train: 40 minutes late. Today Florence-Rome: so far 36 minutes late. I don’t know if it’s incompetence or bad luck. I know that no government has done worse than this one on transport, no one. And no minister of Transport has done worse than Salvini”, writes on X the leader of Italia Viva publishing the photo of a monitor of the Frecciarossa reporting the delay.