6.4 TRAFFIC CONTROL INSTRUMENTS [NEW

concernenti ‘Accertamenti e indagini di RFI in caso d’incidenti e inconvenienti ferroviari” the IM shall be required to make the necessary inquiries, based on the type of incident or event. The IM’s inquiry shall include the collection and examination of any information, an investigation into how events unfolded, the quantification of the ensuing damage and the formulation of conclusions, the determination of the causes and responsibilities. The IM, based on the assessment of the results of the inquiry, then makes the inquiry documents available to the ANSFISA and forwards a copy to the RUs involved in the event. The IM, acting on a specific request, forwards the inquiry reports, and information relating to any improvement measures, to the IB of the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport. If the ART initiates an investigation, in connection with any serious anomalies, the IM and RU shall make available all the related documents in their possession and send it on should it be requested.

6.4 TRAFFIC CONTROL INSTRUMENTS [NEW]

6.4.1 Integrated Traffic Platform (PIC) [new]

The Integrated Traffic Platform (PIC) is the IT system supporting traffic management, used by IM to request train paths and services, to record delays and deviations and to allocate and report causes of delay and for the Performance Regime. On the basis of the profiles issued, the platform also provides information on punctuality performance in real time and on the basis of the final data.

Annex 1 to Section 6 (ex annex 4 to section 2)

Operating procedures for passenger announcements in the case of snow/ice emergency conditions

This procedure defines the rules governing the operating process and how to handle communications in respect of planned/unplanned changes to train services, in the case of very exceptional conditions, according to the internal regulations of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), especially with regard to emergency weather conditions. It applies to all the events within the meaning of very exceptional conditions and operating incidents.

Very exceptional conditions

Conditions can become 'very exceptional' when they: - cause damage to passengers, staff or third parties; - affect a network junction or line for a forecasted length of more than 2 hours; - give rise difficulties or significant repercussions on train services, due to the re-routing of trains, especially long-distance trains, onto alternative routes. Furthermore, it applies to abnormalities that cannot be defined as significant when they arise, but which evolve into significant abnormalities over time or which affect lines/yards of significant commercial importance.

MANAGING EXCEPTIONAL CONDITIONS

When very exceptional conditions arise, according to the definition given above, RFI shall: - regulate train services, handling the exceptional conditions by allocating the residual capacity, deciding the relevant and most appropriate measures jointly with the Railway Undertakings (such as service restrictions, cancellations, re-routing, etc.); - activate, subject to prior consultation with the undertakings involved, all the necessary channels for providing prompt and effective information to passengers, by means of: a) specific announcements via the audio/video peripherals at stations and coordination with the RUs for on-board announcements; b) notices regarding the exceptional conditions published in the "RFI ultime notizie" Section of the RFI website www.rfi.it.

SNOW/ICE WEATHER EMERGENCY

Activation of the measures provided for in the snow and ice plans is linked to the weather bulletins and warnings of adverse weather conditions issued by the National Department of Civil Protection and its territorial structures. According to the level of severity announced the following operational phases will be activated: 1. Pre-alert phase: marked by weather conditions that, normally, do not involve any disruption of train traffic, as the equipment and resources available are sufficient to maintain the full capacity of the installations and lines. 2. Yellow alert phase: marked by weather conditions that impose restrictions on train movements and other services (shunting, etc.). The available resources, including the use of external labour, allow the maintenance of a large part of the switches and paths. 3. Orange/red alert phase: marked by weather conditions that do not allow all the paths and switches of the national network to be maintained. The available resources will therefore be dedicated to maintaining the infrastructures identified as priorities for train operations. In the event of a red alert, further reductions in traffic will be possible compared to the orange alert scenario, up to and possibly including the suspension of traffic.

RFI, with adequate advance notice and on the basis of the notices issued by the Civil Protection, communicates the state of alert to all the RUs.

The yellow and orange phases of the emergency are associated with specific plans to reduce regional and long-distance train services, which are agreed in advance with the Railway Companies and updated annually close to the start of the winter season. Depending on the availability of the lines affected by the emergency, passenger and freight services will be rescheduled in accordance with the principles of transparency and non-discrimination.

In order to minimise the possible inconvenience to customers in the event of snowfall, the IM's operational plan provides for the activation of programmes to reduce the commercial offer with reference to the warning scenario (Yellow or Orange/Red) envisaged, which will be adopted as a preventive measure based on the critical points indicated in the Adverse Weather Conditions bulletins issued by the Civil Protection Department and its regional branches.

The IM will be able to allow the circulation of the trains foreseen by the programmes defined in the Operational Alert Scenarios, both with possible losses deriving from the actual severity of the weather conditions and consequent longer journey times in relation to the adoption of the related precautionary railway protocols.

In the event of the activation of an alert phase, adequate information will be provided to customers by means of press releases, official RFI websites, as well as widespread information to the public, audio and video, in the stations of the network. In addition, during the day of criticality, specific communication protocols will be ensured to allow timely and effective information to passengers regarding possible further changes and delays or to communicate possible alternatives to their planned trip.