Italian railway news
News about railway, metro and tram infrastructure, operations, policy, projects and the supply industry in Italy, from Railway Gazette International.
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NewsDescend into the underworld at Napoli Line 7 station
ITALY: An ‘art station’ designed by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor to provide a visual metaphor for the descent into the underworld is the architectural highlight of Napoli’s recently opened Line 7.
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NewsTrenord launches Trainscanner rolling stock inspection tool
ITALY: Regional operator Trenord and MerMec have introduced a health and diagnostic tool known as Trainscanner.
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NewsFour tracks between Voltri and Sampierdarena marks progress on Genova Node
ITALY: Revenue services have started running on the additional pair of tracks that have been built to augment the existing formation between Voltri and Sampierdarena stations in Genova.
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NewsFrecciarossa 1000 high speed train launched as FS Group ramps up its internationalisation strategy
ITALY: National railway FS Group emphasised its ambitions for international expansion, including the launch of Paris – London services, in a panel discussion at the Expo Ferroviaria trade fair.
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NewsTrenitalia and Alstom unveil 200 km/h regional train
ITALY: Alstom and Trenitalia have unveiled a variant of the Coradia Stream regional electric multiple-unit family with a higher maximum speed of 200 km/h to enable operation on the Firenze – Roma Direttissima high speed line.
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NewsStadler to supply battery and hydrogen trains for Italian narrow gauge lines
ITALY: Stadler has unveiled a 950 mm gauge battery trainset for Ferrovie Appulo Lucane, and signed a contract to supply two hydrogen trains to Ferrovia Circumetnea which also uses the so-called ’Italian metre gauge’.
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NewsBrenner Base Tunnel exploratory bore broken through
EUROPE: A celebratory event has marked the breakthrough of the exploratory tube of what will be the world’s longest railway tunnel.
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In depthFreight: FS accelerates push into European logistics
Rebranded as FS Logistix, Italy’s state-owned rail freight business is aiming to position itself as a freight forwarder operating across the entire European logistics chain, as CEO Sabrina De Filippis tells Toma Bačić.
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NewsNext Firenze tramway and vehicle purchase approved
ITALY: Firenze city council has approved the final design of a tram line to link Piazza Libertà on the existing network with Rovezzano station.
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In depthItaly: EU funding deadline looms over major projects
Numerous rail projects are under way across Italy, thanks to Covid recovery funding, but slow progress means that some schemes may not meet the EU deadlines for completion. Toma Bačić investigates.
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NewsStudy finds that Dolomites railway proposal is not viable
ITALY: The construction of a railway to the resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites is not viable, according to a study prepared by infrastructure manager RFI.
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NewsNext Salerno – Reggio Calabria high speed line contract awarded
ITALY: RFI has awarded a €1·6bn contract for the construction of a 22·2 km double-track connection mostly in tunnel between Cosenza and Paola.
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NewsTrenord targets Chinese tourists with WeChat account
ITALY: Lombardia regional passenger train operator Trenord has launched an account on the WeChat social media and messaging app which is popular with Chinese visitors.
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In depthFirenze: Low-vibration trackform protects historic urban core
Pandrol has deployed its latest low-vibration trackform and floating sleeper mats on two extensions of the light rail network in the historic centre of Firenze. The company’s Technology Manager for Sustainable Resilient Systems Ernesto San Vicente explains how the challenges of the deployment were overcome.
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Metro Report InternationalTram proposed to link Brescia with Lake Garda
ITALY: Pre-feasibility studies have been presented for a 22 km light rail line to link Brescia with its hinterland to the northeast, including Lake Garda.
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NewsInnoway Trieste rolls out its first wagons
ITALY: The first vehicles have rolled out at the Innoway Trieste wagon plant.
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In depthItaly: La Dolce Vita takes to the tracks
Supported by the growing heritage businesses within the national railway FS Group, Italian premium hospitality company Arsenale has launched La Dolce Vita Orient Express, a luxury land cruise service offering one and two-night trips. Anthony Lambert was on the inaugural train.
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NewsPrototype hydrogen shunting locomotive unveiled
ITALY: A prototype hydrogen fuel cell locomotive was unveiled by rolling stock maintenance company SITAV at the Hydrogen Expo in Piacenza.
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Metro Report InternationalBrescia T2 tramway construction contract awarded
ITALY: Brescia Mobilità has awarded €326m contract for the design and construction of tram Line T2 to a consortium of Manelli Impresa, Alstom and Hitachi Rail.
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NewsEarthquake warning system deployed on high speed line
ITALY: Infrastructure manager RFI has inaugurated a seismic warning system to enhance safety on the 211 km Roma – Napoli high speed line.