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. This major new order will see Hitachi Rail continue to play a role in the Italian high-speed rail sector.
The new fleet will be manufactured at Hitachi Rail’s Italian factories in Naples and Pistoia, near Florence. The first deliveries are planned to start in spring 2026, at a rate of 8-10 trains per year. The new order will bring the final total of ETR1000’s in service to 94.
The ETR1000 trains are capable of a top speed of 350 km/h in passenger operation and are also known for their low environmental impact. They are equipped with cutting-edge technology that allows them to travel on different types of national railway infrastructure. This includes on lines running across France, Germany, Switzerland and The Netherlands.
“This new contract confirms our commitment, as a partner of Trenitalia Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group, in offering safe, innovative, comfortable and green mobility solutions, further improving connections across Italy and from Italy to Europe,” said Luca D’Aquila, chief operating officer of Hitachi Rail Group and chief executive officer for Hitachi Rail Italy. “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.”
The new order shows the popularity of the ETR1000 trains and to Hitachi Rail’s leadership in the Italian high-speed rail sector. It has been delivering ETR1000’s for Trenitalia, Ferrovie dello Stato Group since 2010, with 58 in total already in service, and a further six in the pipeline, scheduled to be delivered in the near future.
As per the previous trains, the new models will have the iconic Freciarossa 1000 livery. The ETR1000 has light alloys for the vehicle’s bodyshell, which has been partly credited with its success. This design means it is lighter, relative to its size which greatly benefits its weight/power ratio and in turn offers impressive acceleration.
It is this acceleration that allows the trains to get up to line speed quickly and thereby reduces passengers’ journey time.
Photo: Hitachi Rail
