New Italian high-speed train unveiledBy Keith Fender Published: July 5, 2013 (TRAINS Magazine)
(http://trn.trains.com/%7E/media/Images/Railroad%20News/News%20Wire/2013/07/IMG_1533%20New%20Bombardier%20Zefiro%20for%20Trenitalia%20Vado%20Ligure%203%20July%202013%20Keith%20Fender.jpg?bc=000000&mw=225) (http://trn.trains.com/sitefiles/utilities/image.aspx?item=%7B15395EEA-6B46-46B3-8279-61FC94528335%7D&mw=900&mh=600)A new Bombardier Zefiro train in Italy on July 3, 2013. Photo by Keith FenderROME – In 2010, Italian State Railways ordered 50 eight-car, 224 mph high-speed Zefiro sets from a consortium of Bombardier Transportation and Italian train builder Ansaldo Breda. The first of these new trains, branded "Frecciarossa 1000," is now ready for testing and was officially presented to the railroad on July 3 at the Bombardier plant in Vado Ligure, northern Italy. Frecciarossa means "red arrow" in Italian.
Government-owned high speed rail operator Trenitalia will use the new equipment, valued at $2 billion. The trains are being built by Ansaldo Breda at its factory in Pistoia in the north of Italy and are fitted with electrical equipment and new high-speed trucks supplied by Bombardier, which also designed the trains.
Bombardier has already sold its Zefiro trains in China, with 70 eight-car, 236 mph trains on order being built in China. The Italian contract is the first time the company has sold the train in Europe.
The European version of the Zefiro features a revised body, designed to reduce aerodynamic drag (and therefore the amount of energy needed to operate the train). The trains are designed for operation all over the developing European high-speed network, but initially will only be fitted for use in Italy. Plans to use them on services to France, Germany, and even London will require they be equipped with additional electrical and safety equipment.
The trains will be equipped with four different levels of passenger seating ranging from a 1+1 executive saloon to more conventional 2+2 style coach seats at the other end of the train; currently the train has no seats as it will be tested with sandbags onboard to simulate the weight of passengers and the interior fittings.
Trenitalia operates its principle high-speed services on the Turin-Milan-Rome-Naples route in direct competition with private start-up company NTV, which just completed delivery of its fleet of new AGV high-speed trains built by Alstom. State operator Trenitalia now plans to use its new Zefiro trains at 224 mph on parts of the route between Turin and Naples. Exactly when this will happen is not guaranteed and trains will be operated at the current maximum speed in Italy which is 187 mph until higher speeds are permitted.
IMHO the only thing Amtrak can celebrate now is new 125mph electric locomotives. The United States is so far behind.