Sitting on trolleys waiting for communications, staring at the illuminated boards - which have been off for some time - to try to get updates on train delays and cancellations. Or standing in the very long queues to try to reach the ticket offices, to get some information on departures or ask for a refund on the ticket. A day of passion for tourists and commuters who had booked a train from Rome this morning or were supposed to arrive in the Capital and who found themselves in the chaos of Termini station or Tiburtina station, after the fault on the railway line.
More than a hundred trains were cancelled, totally or partially, due to the fault that occurred on the railway line in Rome, with the disconnection of the systems at Termini and Tiburtina stations. While about forty High Speed and Intercity trains suffered delays of up to 4 hours.
There were many foreign tourists queuing, confused, to understand the fate of their train. Among them Kelly, who arrived a few days ago from Chicago. "I spent a short vacation in Rome and was supposed to leave this morning for Venice," she says. "I'm traveling in Europe and I decided to make several stops in your country. My train was canceled and now I don't know what to do. I've been queuing for two hours to get information."
A little further ahead, John, accompanied by his wife and children, despairs: "We hope to arrive in Florence by this evening, otherwise we will have to skip a leg of our trip to Italy. We left Boston on Saturday and we also planned to visit Venice and Milan."
And there are also those who had work commitments outside the city this morning. "I had booked a 9:30 train to Naples to attend a meeting at the university," Paola explains. "I had to let them know that I wouldn't be going. I waited in line for over an hour to ask for a refund for the ticket."
While Maria, heading to Milan, does not hesitate to define the situation as "a disgrace. With a Jubilee just around the corner, a breakdown cannot block all of Italy," she says. "What will all these tourists think?" Between disconsolate looks and a hint of anger, someone took it philosophically. "Our train back to Genoa is currently an hour late," explains Andrea, accompanied by his father Matteo, "if it doesn't leave, we already have a plan B. I rented a car because I absolutely have to get home by this evening. Unfortunately, we are now used to these inconveniences, but they won't ruin my day. We came to Rome for the David Gilmour concert. Last night we were in the front row," explains the boy, showing the photos. "It was my birthday present for dad. It was truly wonderful."
