Number under construction 16 Formation 4M4T | Number built 34 Operator(s) Trenitalia | |
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Manufacturer AnsaldoBreda (since 2015 Hitachi Rail Italy)
Bombardier Transportation Capacity 600 ( 136 1st cl., 462 2nd cl. + 2 wheelchair ) | ||
The Frecciarossa 1000, also known as the ETR 1000 (Trenitalia) is a high-speed train developed by AnsaldoBreda (now Hitachi Rail Italy) and Bombardier Transportation and designed by Bertone. Fifty trainsets were ordered by Trenitalia in 2010.
History and design
The Zefiro 300 was submitted by Bombardier Transportation and AnsaldoBreda as a response to Ferrovie dello Stato's tender for 50 new high-speed trainsets; the design, a 200 m long eight car non-articulated single decker train with distributed traction, was based on elements of Bombardier Transportation's Zefiro and AnsaldoBreda's V250 train designs. Initial specifications were for a train meeting European high-speed technical standards, with a design commercial speed of 360 km/h (220 mph), initially operated at 300 km/h (190 mph), and to be tested to 400 km/h (250 mph).
The Trenitalia contract was awarded to the Bombardier/Ansaldo joint-venture in August 2010, for delivery into service in 2013. The bid was less expensive at €30.8m per train than the €35m per train cost given by the other bidder, Alstom. The contract value was €1.54bn of which Bombardier's share was €654m.
A mock up of the train (named 'Frecciarossa 1000') was unveiled at Rimini in August 2012. The train's design includes an active suspension system. The vehicles are expected to be operable on multiple European systems, with compatibility with the railway systems of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland claimed by FS.
On 26 March 2013 the first trainset was unveiled during a public ceremony at the Ansaldo-Breda facilities in Pistoia. The train was named Pietro Mennea (1952 - 2013), in memory of the Italian world record holder of the 200 metres track sprint event from 1979 to 1996. The train underwent extensive testing in order to be certified to operate on the Italian high-speed rail network at 360 km/h (220 mph).
In total 50 trains are being built and gradually entered regular service starting from mid 2015, after the first trains entered service during Expo 2015.