Hitachi Rail: €861m deal with Trenitalia for 30 high speed trains

As part of a major new order, Hitachi Rail has signed a contract worth €861 million with Trenitalia
for the supply of 30 new ETR1000 high speed trains, with an option for a further ten trains for an
additional €287 million

The new fleet will be manufactured at the company’s Italian factories in Naples and Pistoia, near
Florence, with the first deliveries planned to start in spring 2026, at a rate of 8-10 trains per year.
The trains, like the previous ETR1000s, will have the iconic red Frecciarossa 1000 livery and are
planned to be used primarily for the Italian high speed network. However, the trains are also able
to run across Europe, including on high speed lines in France, Germany, Spain, Austria,
Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. Thanks to the onboard technology, the fleet is capable
of travelling on different types of national railway infrastructure – switching seamlessly between
the different power supplies and signalling system – in order to complete pan-Europe journeys.
From 2010 to now, 58 ETR1000s have been built for Trenitalia, Ferrovie dello Stato, and a
further six are in the pipeline. With the additional 30 trains included in this new and important order,
the total number of trains produced will rise to 94. The volume demonstrates the ETR1000’s huge
popularity amongst passengers and operators, as well as Hitachi Rail’s leadership in the Italian
high speed rail sector. Hitachi Rail is extremely proud of its record of equipping Italy with fast, safe,
reliable and sustainable trains, capable of shortening journey times between the key Italian cities.

The ETR1000, capable of a top speed of 350 km/h in passenger operation, is also known for its
low environmental impact. It sets the standards for high speed trains with its acceleration, quiet
and smooth running. These characteristics are aiding its success internationally – with ETR1000
fleets running in Spain, where the train has been operating for over a year, and in France, where
cross-border service between Paris and Milan began in 2021.
Part of the train’s success is the use of light alloys for the vehicle’s bodyshell. The design means
that the trains are light, relative to their size, so have an excellent weight/power ratio and can offer
impressive acceleration. It is this acceleration that allows the trains to get up to line speed quickly
and thereby reduces passengers’ journey time – a major factor in the success of high speed trains
in Italy

The design is also highly sustainable – and at the end of the train’s life almost all the materials can
be recovered for reuse. 1
The new trains, which retain the main characteristics of the iconic trains already in operation, will
offer an updated interior, with final design details due to be released ahead of passenger service.
The comfort standards are very high, with an excellent level of sound proofing for quiet passenger
journeys, adjustable LED lighting, ambient air conditioning, suitable access for people with reduced
mobility, onboard monitors, wi-fi and power sockets for PCs and smartphones. The ETR1000 trains
are around 200 metres long, have capacity for 460 seated passengers and have a bistro area
onboard.

“The ETR1000s represent a real turning point in the travel habits of Italian passengers, and they
are doing so also in Europe,” says Luca D’Aquila, COO Hitachi Rail and CEO Hitachi
Rail Italy.
“This new contract confirms our commitment, as a partner of Trenitalia and Ferrovie dello Stato
Italiane , in offering safe, innovative, comfortable and green mobility solutions, further
improving connections across Italy and from Italy to Europe. The new trains will have cutting-edge
features and a renewed and even more functional design that we are sure will be appreciated by
passengers and our customers.”