Val di Susa, public transport inaccessible. Reportage

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Published by Davide Mangili and Dario Dongo on 5 August 2023

1) Public transport in Val di Susa, an inaccessible dream

Public transportation it is an excellent alternative to individual mobility, more sustainable and economical. But it is often inaccessible precisely to those who need it most, such as people with disabilities and personal mobility problems – including the elderly – who in many cases have no alternative.

The use of public transport is, depending on the case, impossible or complicated. Due to architectural barriers and unsuitability of the means that are found especially in the suburbs and the hinterland of big cities. As in Val di Susa, one of the largest and most beautiful valleys in the Italian North West, the largest in the province of Turin.

2) Railways, stations and trains inaccessible

Accessibility to trains in the Val di Susa it is limited to 4 out of 19 stations, equal to 21%, which are equipped with a platform at the level of the train doors and lifts. But the elevators, due to neglect or vandalism, are very often unusable. And those in wheelchairs – or otherwise unable to climb and descend stairs – cannot access trains or enter and exit the station.

Icing on the cake, Ferrovie dello Stato has replaced the trains traveling on the Val di Susa section with antiquated vehicles with high steps, even more distant from the level of the railway platforms. Everyone could take the train independently, as happens in civilized countries, if only the carriages had access to platform level – or the platforms were raised – and the stations had functioning lifts. But no.

2.1) Assistance needed

The 'Blue Room' service, for assistance in stations to passengers with reduced mobility, it is made necessary precisely by the ignorance and indifference of the top management of:

– RFI, with respect to the need to re-design the railway platforms so that at least part of them are raised in order to align with the various types of trains,

- State Railways, regarding the need to organize the trains (starting from the relative orders) so that the accesses to the wagons are at platform level.

Assistance need of Sala Blu, it is emphasized:

– is available in a limited number of train stations,

– must be booked at least 24 hours before departure, even on short journeys,

– obliges passengers with reduced mobility to go to the station 30 minutes before departure,

– it is demeaning, when people with disabilities are loaded onto forklifts which could be done very well without, if only a part of each platform were raised to train level.

In the Susa Valley then the variable 'shuttles' is added, which are made available to users in the frequent cases of problems on the railway line but are normally inaccessible to people with disabilities and reduced mobility.

3) Val di Susa, the nightmare of suburban buses

The Turin Transport Group (GTT), jointly owned by the Municipality, has been operating since 2003 in the area of the metropolitan city of Turin. Public transport in the urban area is generally accessible, thanks to buses equipped with manual platforms and the recently built subway. However, it is enough to try to move just outside the city to experience the nightmare of completely inaccessible public transport, even if managed by the same company.

36 hours notice are required to book a ride on an accessible bus in an extra-urban area. GTT complains about having too many lines and too many inaccessible vehicles to manage in the area, when everyone should be? Then the contract should be revoked for serious breach by the company, but passengers with reduced mobility should not be forced to book a bus a day and a half in advance which should be accessible to all. Even discrimination has a decency limit.

#Shame!

Davide Mangili and Dario Dongo