«Italy has an important fabric represented by our Municipalities. Fs has 2,200 operating stations, of which 200 in municipalities under 15 thousand inhabitants. We have a social responsibility that they are not depopulated and that they remain alive. With the support of the government and local authorities we are convinced that this initiative can lead to a rebirth of these small towns.” She said it the CEO of the FS group, Luigi Ferrarisat the presentation of the 'Territorial Stations' project, explaining that the objective is “to transform stations from places of transit to multifunctional centres, into rest points close to citizens”.
Territory Stations will involve 20 stations throughout Italy and has already started in five pilot stations, located in the four regions of Central Italy involved in the earthquakes of 2009 and 2016: Popoli-Vittorito (Pescara), Urbisaglia-Sforzacosta and Matelica (Macerata) are nearing completion, while Antrodoco Centro (Rieti) and Baiano di Spoleto (Perugia) are currently involved in the interventions which will end in 2025. For each station, having listened to the needs expressed by the territory and the required services and functions were included, from medical clinics to the pharmacy, from workstations with electrical sockets to Amazon Lockers, it was explained during the presentation in which, among others, the deputy prime minister and minister of transport and infrastructure, Matteo Salvini, the commissioner for 2016 earthquake repair and reconstruction Guido Castelli and the general secretary of Anci, Veronica Nicotra.
The stations of Tropea and Sant'Agata di Militello are involved
The other stations that will be involved are: Sesto Calende (Varese), Arona (Novara), Gemona del Friuli (Udine), Camogli (Genoa), Diano Marina (Imperia), Passignano sul Trasimeno (Perugia), Piazza al Serchio (Lucca) , Loreto (Ancona), S. Gavino Monreale (South Sardinia), Golfo Aranci (Sassari), Tropea (Vibo Valentia), Maratea (Potenza), Cesano di Roma (Rome), Sant'Agata di Militello (Messina), San Marcellino – Frigano (Caserta). The criteria for selecting the stations were the following: Municipalities under 15 thousand inhabitants, internet coverage, availability of adequate spaces for the inclusion of services, with active traveler service, and located mainly in urbanized contexts. The services present in the station were the subject of agreements signed by the Fs Italiane group with Amazon Locker, the National Carabinieri Association, the Italian Red Cross, the Federation of General Practitioners (FIMMG), Federfarma and Sport and Health. The initiative also includes dialogue with Infratel Italia which, in coordination with the municipalities, is available to bring free wi-fi connection inside the railway stations. According to the study «Piccole Stazioni: a new time for villages» carried out by the Policy Observatory of the Luiss School of Government in collaboration with the Fd group, it emerged that 78% of those interviewed believe that residing in a village offers a better quality of life than to the city, it is of particular interest that 39% of young people between 18 and 34 years old have considered the possibility of living in a village. This trend, however, according to the Policy Observatory clashes with some challenges, such as access to services, connectivity and job opportunities.