From now on, people with mobility difficulties and the disabled will be able to count on a support and assistance service at the train station in Piazza Matteotti in Cagliari . In fact, the " blue room " was inaugurated this morning, a space in which travelers can request assistance from specially qualified personnel, who will accompany them to collect their tickets and board the train to their seats, carrying their luggage on board , A wheelchair is available and will offer assistance both getting on and off the train using a forklift.
The initiative was strongly backed by the Italian Railway Network (Ferrovie dello Stato Group). A space of about 100 square meters built according to the most advanced design standards, and equipped with a waiting room. The blue room is the first in Sardinia, and is the sixteenth in all of Italy . The service operates every day, including holidays, from 6:45 to 21:30. It will coordinate assistance services in 8 stations located throughout Sardinia: Cagliari, Elmas airport, Macomer, Olbia, Oristano, Ozieri Chilivani, San Gavino and Sassari.
"The blue rooms are a symbol of inclusion, quality and the commitment that Rfi and Ferrovie dello Stato have made towards people with mobility problems - said Daniele Moretti, Rfi traffic director - we aim to expand this service later also to other railway stations on the island. In Sardinia, our management is investing around 14 million euros with the aim not only of offering more services, but above all of making the stations more accessible».
In his first public outing since joining the Giunta Solinas, the new regional transport councilor Antonio Moro said that «in Cagliari, rail transport is a reality that offers a daily service to many students, workers, but also tourists, and can represent hope and the future for our island because even rail transport can help Sardinia reaffirm the right to internal territorial continuity that has been talked about for some time. I hope that other stations on the island will soon be able to count on this type of service that will make them truly accessible to everyone".
Also present at the ribbon cutting was the councilor for Mobility of the Municipality of Cagliari, Alessio Mereu: «It is a noble initiative that adds to others that our administration has launched – he declared – important projects that will allow better living conditions for less fortunate people. In this sense, Mereu recalled the project for the construction of an intermodal center in Piazza Matteotti where all means of public transport will converge. «Therefore, the service inaugurated today by Rfi will facilitate users arriving at the station. The administration is working to break down the architectural barriers and discussions are underway with the Ctm to make the stops accessible to those with mobility difficulties".
At the end of the inauguration ceremony, Archbishop Giuseppe Baturi blessed the hall.