Two formal letters, sent the same day to the Territorial Directorate of Reggio Calabria in Italian railway network (RFI), to ask for urgent and decisive interventions. It is the action put in place by the mayor Vincenzo Francesco Romeo, who draws attention to the operational and structural critical issues of the Vibo Valentia-Pizzo railway station, a strategic junction especially in view of the summer season.
Safety alarm: “Trines too fast, concrete risk for passengers”
In the first communication, dated June 19, 2025, the first citizen expresses “profound and growing concern” for a series of episodes that concerned the safety of the station. Among these, the case of a Frecciarossa train that would not have made the expected stop, with the need for subsequent return, and the transit of freight trains at speeds deemed excessive, near the tracks and docks.
“Events like these – writes Romeo – raise fundamental questions about the effectiveness of the safety systems and adherence to the existing operational protocols”, especially considering that the station risks “to increasingly assume the characteristics of a secondary airport”.
The mayor underlines the potential dangers for the safety of travelers, especially in a phase of the year that sees the station at the center of the tourist flows directed towards the coast of the gods. He therefore asks RFI to provide “punctual clarifications” and, above all, the immediate adoption of corrective measures to “guarantee safety and functionality”.
Accessibility and welcome: “Taxis stalls and clear information is needed”
The second letter of June 19, on the other hand, deals with the theme of mobility and accessibility, with a clear request: the urgent realization of at least two stalls reserved for taxis in the square in front of the station. Currently, Romeo denounces, “dedicated and reported spaces are missing”, with consequent inconvenience for travelers and for the same non -scheduled public transport operators.
The mayor recalls the current legislation – law 21/1992 and DPR 503/1996 – to support the need for an intervention that guarantees “an efficient, safe and conforming service to the reception standards of a modern station”, even for those with reduced mobility or specific needs.
Added to this is the proposal of the Municipality to install four information signs – two inside and two outside the station – to update passengers on the connections with buses managed by Ferrovie della Calabria towards the city and tourist resorts of the area.