by EH
Italy’s Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini faced a barrage of criticism on Tuesday after the country’s rail network was hit by significant delays and cancellations, leaving commuters and travelers stranded.
The disruptions began early in the day as heavy snow in the Reggio Calabria region severely impacted rail services in southern Italy. Compounding the chaos, the Rome-Florence line, already constrained by ongoing maintenance work, experienced additional delays. By evening, Rome’s central Termini station was thrown into disarray when an electrical fault around 6 p.m. halted operations at Italy’s busiest railway hub for nearly an hour. The resulting gridlock led to extended delays, changes, and cancellations across the network.
The events at Termini station were reminiscent of an incident last October when a blackout between Rome’s Termini and Tiburtina stations paralyzed the capital’s rail system, causing over 100 train cancellations. At the time, Salvini controversially attributed the chaos to a maintenance worker who had hammered “a nail into a cable” in the early hours of the morning.
Since then, Salvini has faced mounting criticism from opposition leaders for the persistent disruptions plaguing Italy’s rail network. The latest incidents have only intensified calls for his resignation.
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, leader of the centrist Italia Viva party, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, stating: “Rail transport seems to have gone crazy. What is happening in Italy?” Renzi announced his party’s intention to file a motion of no confidence against Salvini, declaring, “We can no longer go on like this.” He also shared an online petition by Italia Viva demanding Salvini’s resignation.
Elly Schlein, leader of the center-left Partito Democratico (PD), was equally scathing in her remarks. She accused Salvini and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of “paralyzing Italy, with devastating effects on the daily lives of citizens and incalculable damage to the country’s economy and tourism.” Schlein added, “Every day there are delays, lack of information for travelers, and blocked refunds. This is a country that starts every day with an hour of delay. We can no longer permit it.”
Giuseppe Conte, former Prime Minister and leader of the populist Movimento 5 Stelle (M5S), called Tuesday’s rail disruptions “another disaster.” Writing on X, Conte criticized the government for being out of touch with the struggles of ordinary citizens. “Let’s update the government, locked in its golden rooms, on what is happening in the real world: pitch darkness for commuters and travelers at Rome Termini. When will they propose dignified solutions for a civilized country? Wake up!”
Public anger was also palpable, with commuters expressing their frustration online. Many noted Salvini’s conspicuous absence from the inauguration of the newly renovated Piazza dei Cinquecento at Termini station earlier that day.
The transport minister’s handling of the rail crisis comes on the heels of his acquittal in the high-profile Open Arms migrant case in December. Salvini has since hinted at his desire to return to the Interior Ministry, a position he held during Giuseppe Conte’s first government from 2018 to 2019.
As Italy’s rail chaos continues to disrupt daily life, Salvini’s critics show no signs of relenting. The growing backlash underscores the mounting pressure on the transport minister to address the systemic issues plaguing the country’s rail infrastructure.
