ETR.500 (mono-current) ETR 500 (bi-current) ETR 500 F (tri-current) | |
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![]() The ETR 500 "Frecciarossa" of the Italian Railways | |
Manufacturer | AnsaldoBreda |
Family name | Elettro Treno Rapido 500 |
Operators |
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Specifications | |
Electric system(s) | Overhead catenary, 3 kV DC, ETR.500 (mono) + 25 kV 50 Hz AC, ETR 500 (bi) + 1.5 kV, ETR 500 F (tri) |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
ETR 500 ( Elettro Treno Rapido 500) is a family of Italian high-speed trains built by AnsaldoBreda and introduced in 1993.
Designed under the aegis of the Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), it is now operated by Trenitalia on RFI tracks.
From 2018 to 2023, Mercitalia converted and used some ETR 500 trains for Mercitalia Fast high-speed freight train service.
The opening of the Direttissima line, connecting Florence with Rome, in stages between 1978 and 1991 was the first high speed line in Europe. Then, in the 1990s, FS unveiled plans to build a whole new high speed network. As the larger part of the network would be suited for speeds of 300 km/h (190 mph), new, non-tilting trains had to be designed as the tilting equipment used in the ETR 450, 460 and 480 Pendolino series was not suited for speeds of over 250 km/h (155 mph).
The new train was to be built by the TREVI (TREno Veloce Italiano, "Italian Fast Train") consortium, formed by Breda Costuzioni Ferroviarie, FIAT Ferroviaria, Tecnomasio and Firema Trasporti.
In 1988 the first prototype motorcar, called ETR 500-X and nicknamed "Remo," as the brother of the first Roman king, rolled out of the factory in Vado Ligure. It was tested on the Direttissima line in the combination of a measuring car and an E 444 locomotive, reaching a record speed of 319 km/h (198 mph).
In 1990 the 2 first complete trainsets, called ETR 500-Y and nicknamed "Romolo," as the first Roman king, were delivered. They were used as test units between their delivery and 1995, when the first production sets entered into service. Between 1995 and 1997 they were also used in normal commercial service when there was a shortage of normal ETR.500 trainsets.
The 3 motorcars of the prototype sets are now based at different locations in Italy and unfortunately have been vandalised and graffitized. The middle cars of the 2 ETR 500-Y sets are now part of the two RFI ETR.500 test trains Y1 and Y2.
ETR.500 (mono-current) | |
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![]() ETR.500 mono-current powercar at Roma Termini. | |
In service | 1992–2007 |
Manufacturer | Trevi (consortium of Breda Costuzioni Ferroviarie, FIAT Ferroviaria, Tecnomasio and Firema Trasporti) |
Refurbished | 2006–2008, transformation into E.414 |
Number built | 30 trainsets |
Formation | 11-car trainset |
Capacity | 187 (1st class) 469 (2nd class) |
Operators | FS/Trenitalia |
Specifications | |
Train length | 327.6 m (1,074 ft 10 in) |
Maximum speed | 300 km/h (190 mph) |
Weight | 598 t (589 long tons; 659 short tons) |
Power output | 8,800 kW (11,801 hp) |
Electric system(s) | Overhead catenary, 3 kV DC |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Safety system(s) | RS4, SCMT |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
After the success of the 2 prototypes, FS decided to order 30 mono-current trainsets supporting the 3 kV DC supply of existing lines. Delivered between 1992 and 1996, with interiors styled by design company Pininfarina, they consist of 2 motorcars (numbered E 404 100 to 159), four first class cars, a restaurant car, and six second class cars. Although suited for driving 300 km/h (190 mph), they were limited to 250 km/h (155 mph) on the Direttissima as the current drawn from the catenary at 300 km/h (190 mph) would be too high. This was also the reason why a second generation, dual-voltage trains was ordered.
Major routes of this train were Chiusi-Milan, Florence-Naples, Milan-Rome Termini, Milan-Naples, Bologna-Rome Termini, Milan-Salerno, Milan-Venice, Venice-Rome Termini.
Between 2006 and 2008, the first generation trains have been upgraded with newly built E.404 6xx dual-voltage motorcars, coupled to the existing middle cars. All E.404 0xx motorcars of the older trainsets have been refurbished and transformed into locomotives of the type E.414, to haul EuroStarCity and later Frecciabianca trains on selected routes. These trains consist of two E.414 locomotives and 10 former Intercity UIC-Z coaches. Although the coaches are "normal" Intercity coaches, they will mostly remain in semi-permanent coupled formation with the two E.414 locomotives.
ETR 500 (bi-current) ETR F 500 (tri-current) | |
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![]() ETR.500 "AV" at Milano Centrale. | |
In service | 2000 – present |
Manufacturer | Trevi (consortium of Alstom, Bombardier, AnsaldoBreda) |
Refurbished | 2012 (replacing 1st and 2nd class with 4 levels of service) |
Number built | 30 complete trainsets + 60 power cars (for 1st generation mono-current sets) |
Number in service | 59 trainsets |
Formation | power car + 11 middle cars + power car (original-2004, 2011-present) 12 middle cars (2004-2010) 8 middle cars (ETR 500 F, Turin-Milan) |
Capacity | 11 middle cars: 187 (1st class) 469 (2nd class) 12 middle cars: 195 (1st class) 476 (2nd class) 8 middle cars: 136 (1st class) 268 (2nd class); From 2012: 574 seats. Executive 8 armchairs + meeting room for 6 people (coach 1); Business 159 (coaches 1, 2, 3, 4); Bar- Bistrot (coach 5); Premium 67 (coach 6); Standard 340 (coaches 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) |
Operators | FS/Trenitalia |
Lines served | Torino-Milano-Bologna-Firenze-Roma-Napoli-Salerno; Torino-Milano-Verona-Padova-Venezia-Trieste/Udine; Venezia-Padova-Bologna-Firenze-Roma-Napoli-Salerno; Milano-Bologna-Ancona-Pescara-Bari-(Lecce) |
Specifications | |
Train length | 327.6 m (1,074 ft 10 in) (original formation) |
Maximum speed | 360 km/h (225 mph) |
Weight | 598 t (589 long tons; 659 short tons) |
Power output | 8,800 kW (11,800 hp) |
Electric system(s) | Overhead catenary, 3 kV DC, 25 kV 50 Hz AC (+ 1.5 kV DC for ETR.500 F) |
Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
Safety system(s) | RS4, SCMT, ETCS (+ KVB and TVM430 for ETR.500 F) |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
With the new high-speed lines finally in construction, FS chose to electrify the lines at 25 kV 50 Hz AC instead of 3 kV DC as used on the classic network. This allows the trains to drive at their top speed of 300 km/h (190 mph), as 3 kV is technically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph) operation. As the first generation trains can not operate off 25 kV AC, new trains had to be ordered. As the new trains can run both off 25 kV AC and 3 kV DC, they were designated P for politensione (multi-voltage).
The new power cars of the trains feature a totally different design than the first generation trainsets, although also designed by design company Pininfarina. These new trains, delivered between 2000 and 2005, consist in original formation of 2 motorcars, four 1st class cars, a restaurant car, and six 2nd class cars. However, with the addition of a Business class car after the four 1st class cars to all trainsets, expansion to 12 middle cars was finished in 2004. [1]
The ETR 500 P started regular service with their commercial top speed of 300 km/h (190 mph) on the Rome-Naples and Torino-Novara high-speed lines, when those lines were opened for revenue service on 22 December 2005 resp. 1 February 2006. [2]
The second generation trains can be divided in multiple sub-series. They were delivered in three batches:
In addition, there are rebuilt and refurbished versions:
The last speed record is 362 km/h (225 mph) (also trainset Y1) between Florence and Bologna. [15] This represents the "indoors" world speed record, as the speed was reached in the Monte Bibele tunnel on the new high speed line between Bologna and Florence. [16]
By the end of 2017 Trenitalia will have 50 new ETR 1000 able to reach 360 to 400 km/h (225 to 250 mph). [17]
Pendolino is an Italian family of high-speed tilting trains used in Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the UK, the US, Switzerland, China, and Greece. It was also used in Russia from December 12, 2010 until March 26, 2022. Based on the design of the Italian ETR 401, it was further developed and manufactured by Fiat Ferroviaria, which was taken over by Alstom in 2000.
Trenitalia is the primary train operator of Italy. A subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, itself partly owned by the Italian government, the company and partly from a private investors group. It was established in 2000 following a European Union directive on the deregulation of rail transport.
The Italian railway system is one of the most important parts of the infrastructure of Italy, with a total length of 24,227 km (15,054 mi) of which active lines are 16,723 km (10,391 mi). The network has recently grown with the construction of the new high-speed rail network. Italy is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Italy is 83.
Hitachi Rail Italy S.p.A. is a multinational rolling stock manufacturer company based in Pistoia, Italy. Formerly AnsaldoBreda S.p.A., a subsidiary of state-owned Finmeccanica, the company was sold in 2015 to Hitachi Rail of Japan. After the deal was finalized, the current name was adapted in November 2015 to reflect the new ownership.
Eurostar Italia was the name given to high-speed trains operated by Trenitalia in Italy. The brand was discontinued and replaced with Le Frecce in December 2012.
ETR 450 was the first series Italian tilting train.
The New Pendolino is a class of high-speed tilting trains built by Alstom Ferroviaria for Trenitalia and Cisalpino.
The Italian railway system is one of the most important parts of the infrastructure of Italy, with a total length of 24,227 km (15,054 mi) as of 2011.
High-speed rail in Italy consists of two lines connecting most of the country's major cities. The first line connects Turin to Salerno via Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples, the second runs from Turin to Venice via Milan and Verona, and is under construction in parts. Trains are operated with a top speed of 300 km/h (190 mph).
The ETR 200 is an Italian electric multiple unit (EMU) introduced in 1936.
ETR 470 is a high-speed tilting electric multiple unit, which is now only operated by the Greek company, Hellenic Train. Introduced in September 1996, nine units were built for the Italo-Swiss firm Cisalpino. They were made by Fiat Ferroviaria, and could tilt up to 8°. Today, there are five trains in Greece.
The ETR 480 is a tilting Electric Multiple Unit built by Fiat Ferroviaria since 1993, It is also known as Pendolino. It was developed from the first new-generation Pendolino, the ETR 460. The main difference between ETR 460, ETR 470 and ETR 480 is that the 460 run only on 3 kV DC, the 470 on both 3 kV DC and 15 kV AC, and the 480 on both 3 kV DC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC.
High-speed rail (HSR) has developed in Europe as an increasingly popular and efficient means of transport. The first high-speed rail lines on the continent, built in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, improved travel times on intra-national corridors.
The Milan–Bologna high-speed railway is a railway line that links the cities of Milan and Bologna, part of the Italian high-speed rail network. It runs parallel to the historical north–south railway between Milan and Bologna, which itself follows the ancient Roman Road, the Via Aemilia. The new railway follows the Autostrada A1 closely for much of its length. The new line allows faster traffic to run separated and increase the overall railway capacity between the two cities.
Frecciarossa is a high-speed train of the Italian national train operator, Trenitalia, as well as a member of the train category Le Frecce. The name was introduced in 2008 after it had previously been known as Eurostar Italia. Frecciarossa trains operate at speeds of up to 300 km/h (190 mph). Frecciarossa is the premier service of Trenitalia and competes with italo, operated by Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori.
The ETR 460 is an electric multiple unit (EMU) tilting train produced by FIAT Ferroviaria since 1993. It is also known as the Pendolino after the family of trains from which it comes.
The Frecciarossa 1000, is a high-speed train operated by Italian state railway operator Trenitalia and the private Spanish high-speed rail operator Iryo. It was co-developed as a joint venture between Italian rail manufacturer Hitachi Rail Italy and multinational conglomerate Alstom. Both design and production work were divided between the two partner companies.
Le Frecce is the high-speed rail train category operated by Trenitalia in Italy.
The Livraga derailment is the only railway accident to date on the Italian high speed rail network. It took place on 6 February 2020 when a high-speed train derailed at Livraga, Lombardy, Italy. Two people died and 31 were injured.
The ETR 600 is a class of high-speed trains with tilting technology built by Alstom Ferroviaria, which belong to the fourth generation of the Pendolino family. Due to the active tilting technology, the car bodies can be tilted by up to 8 degrees for higher speeds over curves. The design of the ETR 600 comes from Giorgetto Giugiaro.