NAPLES – The Circumvesuviana remains hostage to delays. The delivery of the new trains, long-awaited to revive one of the country's most damaged railway lines, is once again in the balance. The Spanish company Stadler, contracted to supply the trains, has requested a new extension of the delivery deadline: it would be the third in four years. EAV, the regional company that manages the network, has reacted harshly, threatening penalties and legal action for damages.
In a letter sent on November 7 to the Valencia headquarters, President Umberto De Gregorio described a "dramatic situation" that risks erupting on the eve of the regional elections of November 23 and 24. Of the 56 trains ordered in 2019—at a cost of €6,5 million each—only three have been delivered. And none have yet entered service, pending testing. According to the terms of the contract, 38 were due to arrive by today.
EAV has rejected any further delays, formally warning Stadler against further delays that, according to the regional company, jeopardizes the entire plan to relaunch public transport in Campania. “It is not possible to accept further requests for extensions or changes to the payment conditions”, we read in the letter, “and we reserve the right to take action in all appropriate venues, including judicial ones.”
The situation is worsened by the 24-hour strike called by the Confail union, which in the latest strikes had seen 30% of workers participate. The Circumvesuviana, already burdened by daily cancellations and breakdowns, is preparing for another day of disruption. The issue of ghost trains will be one of the first issues the new regional president will have to address. Without new trains, the Circumvesuviana risks remaining stationary, literally and politically.
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It's truly incredible how this situation continues to persist. The trains never arrive, and the inconvenience is increasing for everyone. We hope there's a solution soon, but the situation seems complicated.