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.
CEO of the Trenitalia passenger business Gianpiero Strisciuglio said ’the success we have achieved in recent years obliges us to continue on the path we have taken, and we are doing so by investing in the renewal of the fleet, as demonstrated by the entry into service of the new-generation Frecciarossa 1000’.
The latest generation of Hitachi-built high speed trainset entered passenger service on September 28, having been displayed at InnoTrans 2024.
Trenitalia expects to have 46 of the new generation of trainsets in use by 2029, with many to be deployed on international services operated though partnership agreements with domestic operators in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, and by Trenitalia’s local companies in France and Spain.
UK market
Trenitalia said its growth will not stop with the current services, and its ambitions include a Paris – London route through the Channel Tunnel. ‘The connection between the British and French capitals represents an iconic project’, said Ernesto Sicilia, Managing Director of Trenitalia UK. ‘The market is very large, there’s room for a new competitor, and we’re working hard to compete with a major player like Eurostar.’
FS Group also remains in the UK domestic market, and ‘intends to continue, despite the nationalisation processes promoted by the government, to represent an experienced partner with whom the British executive can engage’, Sicilia said.
Freight plans
On the freight side of the group, ‘FS Logistix already generates 60% of its revenue from international operations’, said Andrea De Bernardi, CEO and General Manager of Mercitalia Intermodal. ’Our market is Europe, and we have based our strategic plan on this.’
He said ‘the flow of goods is changing, and more and more will be flowing from other continents to Europe. This is why we have decided to enter Europe’s second most important port, Antwerpen, and have launched the first Antwerpen – Milano connections. The Belgian port will also allow us to establish connections with France and eastern Europe.’
Engineering activities
Italferr CEO & General Manager Dario Lo Bosco said the engineering business also has an important role in FS Group’s internationalisation strategy, and ‘our digital platforms are increasingly appreciated globally, as is our commitment to protecting the safety of our operators’.
Italcertifer CEO Carmine Zappacosta highlighted the independently operating certification, testing and inspection subsidiary’s central role in Frecciarossa 1000 programme, and its work with the Politecnico di Milano, University of Pisa, Università di Firenze and Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II.
New generation Frecciarossa 1000
Renewing the train fleet is one of the key objectives of FS Group’s 2025-29 strategic plan.
‘The new-generation Frecciarossa 1000 was created to offer our passengers an even more comfortable, reliable and digital travel experience‘, said Strisciuglio. ‘We have worked to improve every detail: more welcoming interiors, more luggage space, and advanced onboard technological services. The goal is to meet the needs of changing mobility, in Italy and soon in Europe.‘
Trenitalia has so far ordered 36 of the latest evolution of the Hitachi ETR1000 design for €1·3bn, and has an option for 10 more. Deliveries are scheduled at a rate of around 10 trains per year through to 2029.
The trainsets are designed for operation within Italy and in France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium.
They are designed to be more efficient that previous generations. They have a recyclability rate of 97·1%, up from 94·4%, and have obtained environmental impact certification based on a thorough full life cycle assessment.
The interior styled by Giugiaro Design includes 461 seats in four classes, with the number of Executive seats increased from 10 to 14. The latest version is fully accessible for wheelchair users travelling independently, and now has tables for wheelchair users. The standard class accommodation has eight additional luggage racks and larger overhead lockers. The buffet has more space for displaying products, while the food preparation and catering area has been expanded.
There is an updated traction system and 100 Mbps ethernet control network. An energy measurement system can then be used for billing. Wi-fi capacity has been increased tenfold, Trenitalia claims.
The trains are certified for 360 km/h but will operate at 300 km/h in revenue service.
‘With the new-generation Frecciarossa 1000, we are taking a further step in the implementation of the 2025-29 strategic plan, with the aim of increasing the number of passengers onboard our trains and improving their comfort’, FS Group CEO & General Manager Stefano Antonio Donnarumma said on a preview trip on September 26.
‘Over the years, the Frecciarossa has become a symbol of travel in Italy: today we are renewing it to meet the needs of a country that demands increasingly faster, more efficient, and environmentally friendly connections. This is a decisive step towards an increasingly integrated and international mobility system.’
