NEXT MONTH is due to see the formal launch of the Excelsior luxury sleeping cars on the international overnight services between France and Italy. Being built for Italian Railways by Costaferroviaria with styling by Giugiaro, the 20 Excelsior cars include a centrally located suite with double bed and a reception area at one end (RG 5.97 p292).
The 200 km/h vehicles will form part of a refurbished overnight fleet to be operated by a new international GEIE owned by FS and French National Railways. This is currently being formed by merging the two separate GEIEs that were set up to manage daytime and overnight services.
The first Excelsior cars began test running in revenue service during March, attached to the Roma - Paris Palatino and Venezia - Paris Rialto. From September 26 there will be one vehicle in each of these trains and another on the Paris - Milano run.
The remaining Excelsior cars form part of the Italian domestic sleeper network, which is being restructured in a rolling programme begun in mid-1998. Seats cars on the overnight services have been replaced by modern air-conditioned inter-city stock released from daytime services by ETR460 and ETR500 high-speed trainsets. The first designated Night Intercity services are running on the Milano - Bari, Milano - Lecce and Roma - Lecce routes. Full dining cars are also provided.
FS is also relaunching its classic second-class sleeping cars with six-seat/four-berth compartments as Comfort Cars. The refurbished vehicles have full air-conditioning, improved soundproofing and a high emphasis on personal safety, with secure locks, alarm buttons and designated ladies-only compartments. These cars are being introduced first on the services to and from Sicily, linking Milano, Torino, Venezia, and Roma with Palermo, Siracusa and Catania. There is also one train each way between Milano and Napoli.
