Viareggio's Tragedy Update

The death toll has reached 25 with the latest train-disaster victim being Federico Battistini, 32 years old, who passed away in a hospital in Pisa. Thirteen people are hospitalized with serious injuries. Rescue workers continue to look for the remains of a man who is missing since the tragic event. Andrea Falorni was walking his dog at the time of the explosion.

Mounting Death Toll

Viareggio's disaster counts 17 dead, including 2 babies who died today, 25 severely injured and 1 missing.

News is coming forth that there is evidence of rust on the GPL container's axle which caused a thin but deep opening and allowed the gas to leak out.

An official inquiry is in course to establish and verify the reasons for the disaster.

That fateful train began its journey in Novara, Piemonte and could have effected any number of the urban areas it was travelling through.

Italy is taking a harder look at the routes this kind of dangerous material travels as it makes its way down and around the "boot".

Tram North Semi-launched

Yesterday night, on my way home from the train station, I saw "Scuola Guida" (Practice Session) written on the Tram route sign at 11 p.m. I thought it odd to see that message. The tram drivers have to practice just like the rest of us! Obviously they do it under the cover of darkness when traffic drops drastically, especially in Padua.

The tram is gaining territory as it has semi-opened the route north of the station since May 24th. The announcement can be seen on the site: http://www.tramdipadova.it/

This method of public transportation has been controversial ever since the idea started 7 years ago by a former administration. The tram is technologically advanced, featuring a single rail which allows the tram to move along a curved path. This was necessary because it bends through Prato della Valle on its 10.3 km route pictured above.

The problems are numerous with the project: too long in its completion (7 years +); dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians (catching wheels and heels in the wide track grooves on major streets); too expensive (required the construction of a new overpass over the train station to accomodate the tram); too limited in its service (offers only a single north-south line through town).

I must admit that it is a nice-looking transport system compared to buses and it makes the city seem more modern, somehow, as well as more similar to Milan, perhaps, as a tram-toting town. Yet we citizens wonder whether the extra expense was well spent. The project went over budget and made certain companies rich in the process of the construction of the routes and overpass. I, for one, never use the tram because it is off my personal commuter route since I live on the eastern part of town. If anything, I have to be careful that the tram doesn't run into me daily as I pedal to and from one of my major clients, Istituto Dante Alighieri, along the tram's path.

The recent opening is partial because the service is offered only for a full day on Sundays and night-service during weekdays and Saturdays. So we are still waiting for full service, since 2002. How many months will we need to wait for this project to be complete? Or should I say years?

This recent push for the partial opening coincides with the June elections. The current administration wanted it to be as finished as possible before the city went to vote even though these particular politicians were not responsible for beginning the project.

Tram Art

The city has a young artist exhibition called Gemine Muse in progress. One of the artists did a piece on the tram where a silhouette of a city landscape was traced onto the window of a tram. If you catch it right, you can see reality line up with the image. Otherwise you see the record of that place while on your journey.

Artist's name: Antonio Guiotto

Gemine Muse, promoted by Progetto Giovani and GAI (Associazione per il Circuito dei Giovani Artisti Italiani) and CIDC (Associazione Città Italiane d'Arte e Cultura) in Padua.

You can see the drawing from the outside of the tram in the above photo. You have to look hard in the reflections to get to the image. Look closely.

Ode to my bicycle

Her name is "Atala". She is a little small for me and red like a Ferrari. She is not particularly fast but I love using her to get around town. It's the only practical way to do it here in Padua, where bus service is awkward, car parking is impossible and walking can be somewhat long and tiring, considering my house is outside of the old city walls.

She's just fast enough to get me to work on time but slow enough that I can look at things along the way and enjoy the ride. I keep up with my window shopping this way.

The trick is having a bike that is old and ugly enough not to be stolen and resold for next-to-nothing but be useful enough to do its job. Some university students are riding around in squeeky messes with wobbling wheels which can be ridiculous to watch. The other version is to cycle on a "Graziella" that is so small the burly male students look like they will fall off it at any minute.

I want to thank my Atala for almost 5 years of faithful service. Grasie vecia mia (in local dialect for Thank you good ol' girl!