Italy rail news
All the latest news, interviews and information about the Italian rail network.
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NewsCircumvesuviana fleet modernisation gets underway
ITALY: Stadler has begun delivering the first of the 950 mm gauge electric multiple-units ordered by regional operator EAV for suburban services on the 169 km Circumvesuviana railway network south and east of Napoli. In May 2021 Stadler and EAV signed a ...
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NewsRENFE linked to Arenaways investment
ITALY: Private operator Arenaways has confirmed to Railway Gazette International that it is in talks with one public and one private investor over the sale of stakes in the company. The Italian company says that ‘advanced negotiations are underway to further expand the corporate structure through ...
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Metro Report InternationalMilano metro M4 extension opens
ITALY: Milano’s metro Line M4 has been extended 7·8 km west from San Babila around the south of the city centre and on to San Cristoforo. Minister of Infrastructure & Transport Matteo Salvini and Milano Mayor Beppe Sala were among the dignitaries at the inauguration on ...
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Metro Report InternationalBologna and Roma tram orders placed
ITALY: CAF has been awarded a framework contract to supply and maintain a fleet of trams for the network under construction in Bologna, while Roma transport operator ATAC has exercised an option to increase a previous order. The orders announced on October 8 have a total ...
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NewsArenaways prepares to launch regional services in January
ITALY: After a 13 year pause Arenaways is returning to the market in less than 100 days with the operation of two lines in the Piemonte region under PSO contracts. The launch timeline was confirmed by Arenaways CEO Matteo Arena, who spoke to Railway Gazette International ...
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NewsWheelchair accessible ETR1000 on show in Berlin
INNOTRANS: Hitachi Rail presented the latest version of its ETR1000 trainset for Trenitalia at the InnoTrans 2024 fair in Berlin. The manufacturer is supplying 30 more trainsets to the Italian state-owned operator under a €861m contract which includes a €287m option for a further 10. ...
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NewsValle d’Aosta electric train unveiled
ITALY: The first of six Flirt electric multiple-units ordered as part of the electrification of the Aosta line has been unveiled at Stadler’s factory at Siedlce in Poland.
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NewsCross-border complexity puts brakes on Nightjet expansion
EUROPE: Further expansion of Austrian Federal Railways’ Nightjet overnight train network beyond the routes already announced is on hold amid ongoing operational and approvals challenges, according to ÖBB.
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NewsMetre-gauge EMU order increased
EUROPE: Italian operator SSIF has placed a firm order for an additional four-car Stadler electric multiple-unit for use on the 1 000 mm gauge Domodossola – Locarno line which it operates in partnership with its Swiss counterpart FART. This takes SSIF’s total order to four units. ...
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NewsBrussels – Venezia night train to serve winter sports and city break destinations
EUROPE: Open access night train operator European Sleeper is to launch a seasonal Brussels – Utrecht – Köln – München – Innsbruck – Verona – Venezia service to winter sports and city trip destinations. The service is being planned around school holidays, the peak winter sports ...
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NewsAutonomous high speed line inspection vehicle on test
ITALY: A prototype 200 km/h Unmanned Railway Vehicle designed to carry out automated inspection of high speed lines is undergoing trials at the Bologna San Donato test track. The URV is designed to undertake inspection, monitoring, analysis and mapping of railway infrastructure ...
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Metro Report InternationalBrescia tram plan gathers pace
ITALY: As part of plans to build two light rail lines to augment the city’s automated metro, Brescia municipality has called tenders for the design and construction of tram Line T2, including the supply of rolling stock. The city has also commissioned operator Brescia Mobilità to ...
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Metro Report InternationalBattery trams to avoid overhead wires in historic Firenze
ITALY: Hitachi Rail has been awarded a contract to supply 46 trams equipped with batteries to avoid the need for overhead wires in the historic city of Firenze. The order announced on July 30 includes the supply of digital signalling, and operator GEST has also awarded ...
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Metro Report InternationalArt and architecture mark Napoli metro Line 6’s return
ITALY: Napoli metro Line 6 reopened on July 17, 11 years after services were suspended. The original 2·3 km line west from Mergellina to Mostra has been extended in tunnel 3·1 km towards the city centre at Municipio, where there is interchange with Line 1. The ...
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In depthInterview: Arenaways rides again
More than a decade after an abortive attempt to enter the Italian inter-city passenger market, private operator Arenaways is back, with approval to launch seven open access services and PSO contracts to revive operations on two local railways in Piemonte. Chief Executive Matteo Arena explains the company’s renaissance to Benjámin Zelki.
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Metro Report InternationalCAF sole bidder to supply Bologna trams
ITALY: CAF is the sole bidder for the tram tender in Bologna, the city council announced on June 25. The municipality is currently evaluating the offer and it still hopes to sign a contract by the end of the summer. Bologna municipality has called tenders worth ...
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NewsMercitalia Rail orders 70 locomotives
ITALY: National railway FS Group’s freight business Mercitalia Rail has awarded Alstom a contract to supply 70 Traxx Universal electric locomotives, including some with last mile capabilities, and to provide 12 years of full maintenance. The contract is worth more than €323m, with deliveries from Alstom’s ...
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NewsBologna launches cross-city suburban service
ITALY: Regional operator Trenitalia Tper has introduced cross-city suburban services in the Bologna area with effect from June 9. Route SFM1 linking Porretta in the southwest with Pianoro to the southeast has been established by the extension of the existing Porretta – Bologna Centrale service to ...
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NewsSNCF Voyageurs plans to launch open access high speed train services in Italy
ITALY: French national passenger operator SNCF Voyageurs has announced plans to launch open access high speed train services within Italy from 2026, with the target of obtaining a 15% market share by 2030. SNCF Voyageurs Italia has applied to infrastructure manager RFI for access rights for ...
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NewsArenaways selects Fairtiq ticketing platform
ITALY: Arenaways is to use Fairtiq’s mobile pay-as-you-go ticketing system on the Cuneo – Savigliano and Ceva – Ormea routes which it is to operate from January 2025 under a 10-year PSO contract awarded by the Piemonte region. Swiss company Fairtiq said this would be its ...