The Blues trains derive from the Masaccio platform and are equipped with diesel-electric propulsion integrated with batteries that make the train a hybrid-bimodal solution, that can also run without electrification.
The completion of the first 20 trains – at Hitachi Rail’s factory in Pistoia, near Florence – marks the first tranche of the €1.23bn framework agreement with Trenitalia for up to 135 trains that will run across Sicily, Sardinia, Calabria, Tuscany, Lazio, and Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The Masaccio’s hybrid technology allows the train to seamlessly draw from battery, electric, hybrid and diesel power. While Hitachi Rail already uses diesel-electric hybrid technology – pioneered on the UK’s Intercity Express fleets – this is the first time batteries have been deployed as a major power source on a train fleet for commercial use anywhere in Europe, according to Hitachi.
The ability to recharge while in service using the pantograph or traction motors means it can deliver seamless green journeys without cutting availability.
Offering more sustainable rail travel, and compatibility with other European railways, the trains reduce carbon emissions and fuel consumption by 50% versus standard diesel trains, Hitachi noted. By running on battery power when traveling through non-electrified urban areas, the train can eliminate emissions, including harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx), while reducing noise pollution.
The Masaccio train’s Driver Advisory System also helps cut emissions by identifying the optimal speed for timetable reliability and the reduction of energy consumption. In a further boost for sustainability, Masaccio trains are made with 93% recyclable materials.
Debuted at Innotrans 2022 in Berlin, the Masaccio platform has been designed to be suitable for railways across Europe. The trains are built at a Europe-wide gauge and with European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) digital signaling included onboard as standard.
According to Hitachi, the Masaccio train will continue to evolve and its next model – anticipated in two years’ time – will operate as a battery-only train with a journey range of over 100km. The technology is also retrofittable, meaning that the hybrid trains of today are likely to become battery-only in the future.
Luca D’Aquila, Chief Operating Officer Hitachi Rail Group and CEO of Hitachi Rail Italy, said: “The roll-out of our cutting-edge Masaccio battery train marks an important step in our efforts to decarbonize European rail.
“With around 40% of regional lines across the continent remaining un-electrified, battery hybrid technology can have an immediate impact. In Italy, the tribrid Blues train is helping cut carbon emissions by 50% compared to existing diesel services. We know that consumers increasingly prioritize the sustainability of their travel choices. Trains like the Masaccio mean that we can ensure comfortable, clean and efficient rail is an option for as many people as possible across Europe,” D’Aquila added.