A “blackout” in Piedmont?
Freight transport is reaching the limits of the capacities in northern Italy. A recent meeting of the Piedmont transport commission warned the public of the situation. The planned Turin–Lyon train link may to become a “desert crossing”.
There’s a threat of a “blackout” of mobility in Piedmont. This statement was made at a recent meeting of the region’s transport commission and published by Piedmont’s regional council. The reasons for this drastic announcement include increased freight traffic and congestion at border crossings. According to the commission this could “lead to isolation and have dramatic effects on the regional economy.”
Sergio Rogna Manassero, the coordinator of the commission, and his deputy Luciano Caveri explained the problem in the statement. There is a risk of saturation on Alpine transport routes. On top of this political decisions made in Switzerland call for a further shift of road transport volumes to the railways, for example.
With regard to the planned opening of the Turin–Lyon railway line between Italy and France in 2035, the two coordinators addressed the danger that the line could degenerate into a “desert crossing”, with the border region around Ventimiglia no longer able to handle road traffic.
In addition, they continued, such developments are further exacerbated by regular maintenance work needed on the Mont Blanc tunnel and access problems in the Fréjus tunnel (towards France).
One accident could have serious effects
Engineer Giancarlo Bertalero, a traffic expert who specialises in Alpine transport, also provides figures that illustrate the problem. According to him, 70% of cross-border goods enter Switzerland by rail. The share is also 30% in Austria.
“Just one accident at a border crossing could be enough to completely overextend road transport operations,” according to Bertalero. This is why the authorities have to establish emergency plans for the concomitant scenarios, the Alpine transport expert insists.