Hitachi Rail Secures €260M Trenitalia Frecciarossa Train Contract

ROME – Hitachi Rail has secured a contract valued at approximately €260 million to manufacture and deliver nine additional new-generation Frecciarossa high-speed trains for Italian national operator Trenitalia. This order extends a previous agreement for 46 units, bringing the total number of new trains ordered to 55. The new units will contribute to a planned fleet of 57 new-generation trains in service starting in 2029.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The contract covers the manufacture of nine Frecciarossa 1000 (ETR1000) series high-speed trains at Hitachi Rail’s facilities in Naples and Pistoia, Italy. These trains are designed for interoperability on the Italian network and across seven other European countries, including France, Germany, and Spain. The full fleet renewal program, of which this contract is a part, will see Trenitalia operate 57 new trains by 2029, with plans to expand this to 74 units by 2031. The trains will be equipped with Hitachi Rail’s HMAX for Rail digital asset management system for real-time performance monitoring.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

The contract values the trains at approximately €28.9 million per unit, which is consistent with recent high-speed rolling stock procurements in Europe. For comparison, Deutsche Bahn’s 2023 order for Siemens Velaro MS (ICE 3neo) trains was valued at roughly €30 million per unit, while the per-unit cost for SNCF’s much larger order of Alstom’s Avelia Horizon (TGV M) trains was lower due to significant economies of scale. The total estimated value for Trenitalia’s full 55-train order likely exceeds €1.5 billion, positioning it as one of Europe’s most substantial high-speed fleet investments this decade. Comparable data for other Italian rolling stock contracts was not publicly available at time of publication.

Editor’s Analysis

This order reinforces the long-term partnership between Trenitalia and Hitachi Rail, cementing the ETR1000 platform as the backbone of Italy’s high-speed services. The investment is a key component of a broader national strategy to modernize railway infrastructure, which includes parallel multibillion-euro upgrades to the country’s signalling systems (Source: Total Telecom, 2024). Trenitalia’s continued focus on multi-system, interoperable trains signals a clear intent to expand Frecciarossa-branded services on international corridors, intensifying competition with operators like SNCF and Deutsche Bahn beyond domestic borders.

FAQ

Q: What specific train model is being purchased?
A: The new trains are the Frecciarossa 1000 model, also designated as the ETR1000. This is Hitachi Rail’s flagship very high-speed train, already in service with Trenitalia and other operators in Europe.

Q: What is the total value of Trenitalia’s entire new fleet order?
A: This specific contract for nine trains is worth €260 million. While the value for the preceding 46 trains was not disclosed, based on the current price per unit, the total investment for all 55 new trains is estimated to be over €1.5 billion.

Q: Will these new trains operate on new routes?
A: The trains are designed for operation on seven European rail networks in addition to Italy. This technical capability supports Trenitalia’s strategy to expand international services, such as its existing Milan-Paris route, and potentially launch new cross-border connections.