An arson fire in a rail
transformer room on the outskirts of Florence caused train chaos
in Italy on Monday.
The fire at the high-speed transformer caused long delays in
both directions on the main north-south line.
Network company RFI said the fire was started "by a
deliberate act by person or persons unknown".
RFI said some 25 high-speed trains had been cancelled, run by
both Trenitalia and Italo.
It said the average delay was 180 minutes and there would be
repercussions all afternoon.
Regional traffic in the larger metropolitan stations was also
affected by delays, it said.
"Rail circulation was completely suspended from 05:00 to
08:00 this morning for checks on the part of judicial
authorities", it said.
"After the first checks were carried out, traffic resumed
with strong delays".
Delays of up to three hours were registered at Rome's main
Termini Station, Italy's biggest rail hub.
Police said the arson attack may have been a "demonstrative
action" by an anarchist group amid a Florence trial against 28
anarchists for various offences against public order.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA