Metro Line 1, continuous failures of the new train: the builder's fault

The new train of the Naples Metro line 1 stopped in the station

For years the city of Naples has waited the new subway trains, and overcoming the controversy over the order made from a Spanish company (regularly winner of the tender) instead of an Italian one, and overcoming the further controversy over the extreme delays in commissioning the first vehicle in the face of several already available for delivery, now to strike are the numerous breakdowns that the convoy is facing.

What happens and why the new subway train breaks down

Ben 3 breakdowns in one week, a half service that a newly licensed vehicle absolutely cannot afford and it is on this that ANM is putting pressure on the Spanish production house CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles).

It is precisely the general manager of ANM who explains it, the medium is not working as it should and it is CAF that has to take responsibility for it by carrying out a specialized technical intervention.

The fault involves the control unit that manages all the electronics, for reasons that are not yet clear, an incorrect temperature is communicated to it, which therefore turns off the compressor.

For reasons also unknown the standby compressor does not start, foreseen precisely for these occasions, which leads to a drop in hydraulic pressure and the train therefore stops going into self-protection.

We are talking about serious breakdowns which bring the convoy to a total block, thus making it necessary to tow with delays not only due to the lack of service of the vehicle, but also because the railway line is stopped due to the towing action.

Now the train it doesn't circulate from Thursday 17 November.

In these conditions it is clearly a train that cannot be put into service, that has to be towed back to the workshop and that needs assistance. Which is not linked to line problems or any other type: this tells us the diagnostics, but the Caf technicians will have to certify the problem and assume responsibility for it and solve it. It's an inconvenience of the train, it's not a problem that derives from something else or from the line

Massimo SIMeoli
Interior of the new train of the Metro line 1 of Naples

Tried and tested for more than a year, yet the problems come now

Over a year of testing for the train in question, a period during which the vehicle had never manifested the defect, it is true however that there is an abysmal difference between the daily and continuous service and the testing carried out in sporadic moments.

What are the resolution times

Unfortunately times cannot be estimated, according to Simeoli, in fact, the problem is of high gravity as it is not a mechanical, replaceable component, but a vital component and part of the non-replaceable train system.

It is certainly not a sine die suspension: it could return to service even immediately, but only if we are certified that it can circulate. The maintenance is entrusted to the Caf: in the framework agreement stipulated by the Municipality there is assistance to the trains and they are the ones who must guarantee us the persistence of optimal operating conditions. As soon as they certify it to us, the train goes out again.

Massimo Simeoli

10 more trains coming, but will they have the same defects?

The Municipality and ANM are not there, another 10 trains have already been ordered and it is not acceptable that the vehicles cannot circulate as they are vital for city transport.

I know that the Municipality has written to the Caf to respect the contract. We do not hide that we are very annoyed because we are personally responsible for the service we offer to users who demand a better frequency and cases like this jeopardize our work

Massimo Simeoli
Follow us on Telegram
Written by Andrew Navarro
Let's talk about: , ,
They may also like