“With two years of valid administration led by President Roberto Occhiuto behind us, supported by a clear development project, we have already provided tangible responses to citizens’ needs. We continue to follow this direction, maintaining our commitment to resource and service planning.” This is what the regional transport councilor says, Emma Stainetaking stock of its first year of activity in the field of transport.
“I have always maintained that true politics is that which responds to citizens’ needs with facts – added councilor Staine – and thanks to the managers and officials of the sector, we have managed to impact the regional transport system. From the second day of my appointment I started a fruitful collaboration with Trenitalia to improve the transport service in the summer period, thanks to which it was possible to reconfirm the Cedri Line, with fourteen connections on weekdays and in the main seaside resorts of the Riviera dei Cedri. The Tropea Line tourist service has also been maintained, with an offer of twenty-four connections per day, on the spectacular Costa degli Dei. On the Ionian coast, then, twelve daily connections between Reggio Calabria and Roccella Jonica and twenty-five between Reggio Calabria and Melito di Porto Salvo, with an enhancement of the festive offer towards the main beaches of the coast. Added to these are fourteen weekday connections from Reggio Calabria to Catanzaro Lido with a stop in Soverato. For ever greater intermodality, the Lamezia Airlink from the station to the international airport of Lamezia Terme has also been confirmed. I can already announce that in 2025 the Region will be served by a total of thirteen Blues and fourteen Pop trains. Meanwhile, on the Ionian Calabrian route, testing has already begun on the first Blues train powered exclusively with pure HVO, a biofuel supplied by Eni Sustainable Mobility which can contribute to reducing CO2 emissions by over 80%. Since the past summer, we have implemented the “Mare-Sila” program through intermodal train-bus services, to encourage sustainable mobility as much as possible, with the collaboration of Trenitalia and Ferrovie della Calabria”.
“In recent weeks – recalled Staine – aWe have completely remodeled over 100 million euros from the 2014/2020 Infrastructure and Networks Action and Cohesion Program (CAP) funds, which necessarily had to be spent by 2026 and which would otherwise have been lost. In this way it was possible to attribute twenty million euros to the Municipality of Reggio Calabria for a sustainable mobility plan. Over 46 million euros have been committed to the purchase of new trains, hybrid and electric, to strengthen regional public transport services and improve connections in the Reggio area; twenty-five million euros will be allocated to employment policies; seven million euros will be invested in airports and one and a half million in tourist railways”.
“As regards the establishment of a new Freccia from Calabria to Lombardy, via Taranto, we carefully evaluate the proposal received from the territories. Any activation of the service will be subject to a feasibility and sustainability study, because public money must be well directed; we have also started the modernization works of the Crotone railway station forecourt to start the connection link with the flights of the ‘Pitagora’ airport. For the same city, a plan is being developed to increase transport and services on the occasion of Rai 1’s New Year’s Eve in the square. Trusting in a winter season that will bring snow to our mountains, shuttles from Cosenza will be established on an experimental basis for Camigliatello and Lorica on winter weekends, to allow skiers and tourists to reach the slopes easily and sustainably, thus encouraging them to limit the use of their own vehicles. Finally, the most important plan on which I am working in agreement with President Occhiuto which concerns the identification of the guidelines and main objectives, preparatory to the issuing of the next tender on local public transport. This is a decisive step that will lead to a solution relating to a service that has been extended for thirty years. A regular competition will be held, with the sole aim of guaranteeing effective internal mobility to the Calabrians. There is certainly still a lot to do, but what has been reported represents for me the way in which politics should match the desires of citizens. Thanks to scrupulous management of resources, strategic partnerships and the continuous support of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, only some of the progress has been made which, I am sure, we will fully appreciate in some time. For my part, the most authentic commitment towards the entire Calabrian community”, concluded councilor Staine.