EFE seeks solutions to mitigate the effects of the train drivers’ strike – La Discusión 2024-07-10 23:08:05

The State Railways Company (EFE) announced yesterday that it will maintain dialogue with the National Railway Traction Federation to lift the strike that the union started yesterday morning, and that in parallel they will seek “complementary solutions” to satisfy the transfer of passengers.

Last Thursday, a train accident occurred in San Bernardo, where two workers from the company Fepasa died. In this context, the San Bernardo court of guarantee charged the driver and the EFE railway controller who were allegedly involved in the crash.

Following what happened and the subsequent suspension of the EFE train service between Alameda and Nos, yesterday morning, the president of EFE, Eric Martin, indicated that they are looking for solutions to resume connectivity and that they are working with DTPM – in the case of Santiago – to have support if the solution is not found in the short term.

“Of course, we are looking for intermediate solutions. We are not going to abuse our position in any case: there is a conversation, there is a community in railways that works together and we are going to maintain that spirit,” said Martin.

Meanwhile, the Federation announced in a statement that the strike will continue until the State Railways Company (EFE) is able to guarantee the safe circulation of trains on the country’s tracks.

The letter states that they have held discussions with EFE. However, they say that the latter has not been able to guarantee the safety of railway traffic, since to date no improvements have been made to the transport systems, ensuring that the same operational conditions that resulted in the collision of two trains with fatal consequences are maintained.

EFE Valparaiso and EFE South

The Federation of Freight and Passenger Railway Transport has established that as railway workers they cannot endanger the lives of their associates, much less their passengers.

Thus, they have decided not to operate trains on the services managed by EFE starting yesterday, Sunday, and today, Monday, the EFE Valparaíso and EFE Sur services will be added to the stoppage.

“We have decided not to operate trains on the passenger services managed by EFE, starting today, Sunday, with the Nos Express service, and adding to the stoppage tomorrow, Monday 24, the EFE Valparaíso and EFE Sur services. This stoppage will continue until EFE is able to guarantee the safe circulation of trains on the tracks of our country,” they said in a statement.