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 onboard technology, the fleet can travel on different types of national railway infrastructure – switching seamlessly between the different power supplies and signaling system – to complete pan-Europe journeys.
From 2010 to now, 58 ETR1000s have been built for Trenitalia, Ferrovie dello Stato Group, and a further six are in the pipeline. With the additional 30 trains included in this new order, the total number of trains produced will rise to 94.
The ETR1000, capable of a top speed of 350 km/h in passenger operation, is also known for its low environmental impact. The ETR1000, for example, has independently certified impressive levels of recyclability, 94.4%, and recoverable materials, 95.8%.
According to Hitachi, 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.
“The ETR1000s represent a real turning point in the travel habits of Italian passengers, and they are doing so also in Europe,” said Luca D’Aquila, COO of Hitachi Rail Group and CEO Hitachi Rail Italy.
“This new contract confirms our commitment, as a partner of Trenitalia and Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group, 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.”