Trains and refunds, the EU uses Matteoli
"I will ask for a derogation from EU regulation." Easyjet makes money. Special Alitalia flight
LONDON - The bad weather and heavy snowfalls that have knocked transport in almost tutto il Nord Italia, paralizzando Milano, hanno causato non pochi disagi a moltissimi passeggeri che viaggiano in aereo, treno o in auto. Forti i ritardi accumulati soprattutto sulle rete ferroviaria, mentre è già polemica sui rimborsi dei voli o dei viaggi in treno cancellati o sospesi. Easyjet ha invitato i clienti che hanno il volo cancellato a non andare neanche in aeroporto e chiedere online il rimborso del biglietto e Alitalia si è impegnata a riproteggere i passeggeri coinvolti dalle irregolarità dei voli. Al contrario il ministro alle Infrastrutture e Trasporti Altero Matteoli ha escluso al momento la possibilità di rimborsi per i disservizi lungo la linea ferroviaria. «Quando si tratta di calamità come this is not no refunds, "explained the minister, referring to the weather conditions that cause delays. "I will ask the European Union - Matteoli added, however - an exception to the EU regulation in force prohibiting the reimbursement of rail fare if the delay or cancellation of trains is due, as in the fact that we are concerned, as the adverse facts imponderable weather conditions that are affecting most of Italy. " The minister also commented on the sentence of ' to Fs Spa Mauro Moretti who invited passengers to bring sandwiches (Altroconsumo says it is Europe to decide that they must bring sandwiches Moretti), water and sweaters for long journeys. "It is a wrong phrase - said Matteoli - Moretti is capable of defending himself, but he's under stress from the day and we are a bit 'all . could be that this stress has led Moretti to say this sentence is not appropriate . Against Matteoli and Moretti Codacons that deploys in a statement announced that decided to protect passengers involved in the disruption of these hours, giving rise to a protest organized based on the Civil Code. Consumer groups criticize the position of the Railways and Matteoli, defining "unacceptable" the lack of reimbursement for the inefficiency.
EASYJET AND ALITALIA - In a note to apologize for the inconvenience due to bad weather, the airline Easyjet has recommended "to all passengers to check the status of their flights on the website www.easyjet.com. If the flight had been canceled, the company asks passengers not to go to the airport and request a refund or exchange your flight online. Alitalia also is available to recover the flight: "All passengers holding a confirmed reservation and a ticket issued for the dates of Monday and Tuesday, and from the airports of Linate, Malpensa, Turin, Bologna, Genoa and Verona - explains Alitalia - will be eligible until 24 December to rebook on later flights without penalty, change itinerary without penalty or refund of the ticket without penalty. "
MORETTI - As for the delays in recent days along the rail network, the CEO of Railways, Mauro Moretti, assured that "the rail network is working" even if "with some delays but tell me what country - demand Moretti - did not delay at this time. " Thus " if people prefer that we cut 50% of the trains, tell : is that all managers of European transport balls are: there is a problem of natural causes." "Then if I tell people I should bring blankets, they all laugh - he added Moretti -. But if there is a disconnection and power train remains the ice is good for people, be sure first. They are information service. " "The controversies we will make later. On the national network, there is no block, it's working, "said Moretti yet, noting that 1650 will be in circulation trains, 'when those 652 are in motion." "The only difficulty we have in Genova, where there is a particular weather situation of ice." Moretti also spoke of High Speed. "There must be the weakest parts to be made to the conflict - said Moretti - In these moments, because we were able to separate high-speed lines from traditional regional trains, though with delay (find me a country where there are no delays of hours in this instant), are still going . The number one of Railways has considered that, 'we started with high speed and we had four days of difficulty. Friday punctuality was improving. You then fall of snow and ice has formed . Also - added Moretti - the effects of bad weather "can not be solved in one day. There are also trains were badly damaged and these parties will also extraordinary maintenance operations. "
"We are the only country without blocks'
Moretti exceptional situation, comparable only to the snowfall in 1985-86 '
ROME - "We have not broken any of the national operation. We have not blocked anything. We are the only country in Europe that has blocked parts of the network. " Mauro Moretti defends and explains in a press conference the reasons for the inconvenience to passengers on trains due to bad weather. The CEO of Ferrovie dello Stato speaks of "exceptional weather situation, comparable only to January 85 or February 86." In that case, Moretti added, there was the blockade of the national network. "While today there are blocks instead." The upheaval also did not occur only in Italy, "If I had had something like what happened in the English Channel - said bitterly - they asked for me ... Piazzale Loreto. "
DELAYS AND PROBLEMS - The rattles off a few numbers. "Today (Monday, editor's note) have moved 3700 trains and 400 are circulating now. We removed 0.3% of the long-haul and 5.6% of regional transport. In some northern regions where there is more snow we have points in Friuli and Emilia 20% to 10%. What are causes of the problems? "Snow, ice and cold have often caused the blockade of trade and the deactivation of the electricity grid and other technical problems, that's why there are stati ritardi in partenza e in ri-partenza . Inoltre venivamo comunque da un periodo critico perché c'era stata l'entrata del nuovo orario e l'avvio del sistema ad alta velocità». Per quanto riguarda i ritardi dei treni, Moretti spiega: «Sono ritardi che si amplificano, ma evitiamo la soppressione dei treni per far sì che anche con grandi ritardi i treni circolino. Insomma i ritardi sono il minore dei mali. Noi evitiamo le soppressioni dei treni, meglio in ritardo che niente treni. Specie sotto le feste, visto che se anche dicessimo alla gente di non partire si muoverebbe lo stesso. Ci sono disagi ma tutto quello che possiamo fare lo stiamo facendo».
'deletion as a last resort " - The cancellation of trains will be' last resort 'and it will continue" even with late hours and hours "until you can reschedule flights, without interruption. "We're in a crisis situation but we are dealing with peace and serenity - ensures Moretti -. We are working at full speed railways and we will do for all parties. We worked mainly for not suppressing the trains and, with many weaknesses and many inconveniences to our users, we succeeded. " Railways, however, "is the only company that has not stopped parts of lines, unlike some companies of the roads and maritime transport. And when comparing the data with the European countries closer to us, added the CEO of FS-we realize that our situation is not as tragic as they write some of the press. "
"JOURNEY WITH PANINI AND SWEATERS" - The highest priority of Railways, Moretti is to ensure uninterrupted service and do not stop the service. "We know that our users want to go home for the holidays and we want to bring them - adds -. Under other conditions I would say to all to postpone the departure of a few days, but I know that now you can not do. " Moretti then launches a recommendation to those who are for going there, "Bring some warm sweater, a few more sandwich and a bottle of water. Because it may happen that due to bad weather goes away the power line and that there is warming in the coaches. " The Civil Defence was alerted, "The volunteers are working with us to keep the situation under control - adds -. But we also need the commitment of the press should help us to communicate with users. Lower the controversy and give more information to service all together. "
GUARANTEED SECURITY - Despite the freezing temperatures that caused accumulation of delays and cancellation of some trains safety on the railway network in Italy is guaranteed. "There is no effect of cold on the safety of trains and passengers. All our trains are set to the maximum security "said the CEO of Fs Mauro Moretti. With the problems caused by icing trains and rail network "has nothing to do maintenance - said Moretti - with the sleeves of ice that form on the electricity grid or block ice and gravel in case there is no maintenance takes' . And, responding to some criticism rained on him in recent days has remarked: "The frost is not given on the electricity grid, professors speaking maintenance would not be able to maintain even their dogs. "
REPLY TO GABANELLI - "Even in these emergency situations, we have a particular focus on regional networks - to ensure the Railways -. We are making exceptional efforts to maintain the regional transportation service at the expense of long distances and to maintain its validity. " And repeating - without openly mention it - the letter to the Corriere di Milena Gabanelli conductive Report Moretti says: "One can not consider a commuter who takes high-speed rail from Rome to Bologna. Commuters are those who use the regional trains and for those treated to 15 minutes of delay are important perché scandiscono la vita di una grande città. Basta pensare a quello che sta accadendo a Milano. Per questo cerchiamo di mantenere un buon ritmo anche ora, in questa situazione di emergenza».
POLEMICHE E REAZIONI – Le affermazioni di Moretti non passano inosservate e suscitano subito polemiche. Ricorre all’ironica l’Adoc (Associazione per la difesa e l'orientamento dei consumatori) che ha inviato a Moretti un panino «a nome di tutti i passeggeri presi in giro e rimasti bloccati per un maltempo previsto da giorni» . «Da Lecce a Milano con 615 minuti di ritardo – afferma Carlo Pileri, Presidente dell'Adoc - oltre 10 ore per attraversare un Paese fermo sui binari. Il Nord-Est è isolato, l'Italia è tagliata a metà, tutti in ritardo i treni provenienti dal Sud in direzione Nord. Chiediamo a Trenitalia di raccontare meno bugie e di passare ai fatti. Basta prese in giro: Moretti si dimetta». Dura anche la reazione del Pdci. «Una bottiglia d'acqua, un panino e una coperta? L'appello di Moretti lascia esterrefatti – dice ». Lo dice Fabrizio De Sanctis, responsabile Trasporti del Pdci -. Costo dei biglietti alla mano, l'ad dovrebbe almeno avere un minimo di buon senso: non sono i cittadini a doversi premunire, ma l'azienda che dovrebbe provvedere ad assicurare ai cittadini viaggiatori i comfort necessari in caso di necessità».