
ROME, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Ferrovie della Stato Italiane, Italy's main rail operator, on Thursday announced plans to start operating "COVID-free" train routes to some of its main destinations starting next month.
Gianfranco Battisti, the company's chief executive, said in a televised interview that the company would start operating what is called "COVID-free" trains between Rome and Milan, the country's two biggest cities. By summer, he said, the trains would connect some of the country's main tourist cities.
"It will be a unique opportunity to allow people to safely visit destinations like Venice and Florence," Battisti said.
As with the so-called "COVID-free" flights Italy started to promote last year, the trains cannot guarantee they are free of the coronavirus. But they can operate with a greater degree of health security.
According to the plan, the Ferrovie della Stato Italiane will work together with the Italian Red Cross and the Italian Civil Protection to carry out testing. The company said more details would be revealed later this month.
Separately, Italpol Chief Antonio Del Greco said in a televised interview Thursday that Italy is training a team of dogs that can "sniff out" people infected with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The dogs will be positioned at train stations, ports, airports, border crossings, and other high-risk locations to help pick out infected individuals.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses