Further to a call for tender, Alstom has been awarded an order from the Italian public railway operator Trenitalia to supply 70 new regional trains. These Alstom Coradia Meridian trains will participate to the strengthening and modernisation of Trenitalia regional service throughout Italy. This contact is worth about €440 million. Deliveries are expected to begin slightly over one year after the signing of the contract.
This award is a tranche of a €3 billion total investment forecasted by Trenitalia for regional transportation, after €1.5 billion already invested in 2009.
These trains will operate in several Italian Regions. They will also service the link between Fiumicino international airport and Roma Termini station. Specifically fitted for inter-city and extra-urban lines, they have roomy and versatile interiors offering commuters a high-quality travel experience.
“This contract is the result of Alstom’s involvement in the development of Italy railway market” commented Henri Poupart-Lafarge, president of Alstom Transport. “This new supply of regional trains for Trenitalia shows the trust of our long term customer in our state of the art technology as well as our local skills".
The Coradia Meridian product line is designed to meet the needs of regional operators in Southern Europe. Today more than 250 Coradia Meridian trains are in service throughout Italy, whilst 13 additional train sets are being built.
This five car-train EMU type (Electric Multiple Unit) is 82 metres long. With a total of 292 seats, it can run at a maximum speed of 160 km/h. Its concentrated traction system with two motor bogies, optimizes the electrical braking capability of the train, allowing energy consumption and brake wear to be reduced. It has a 95% rate of recyclability and its low-floor facilitates access to passengers, especially those with reduced mobility. Each door is equipped with integrated bridging plates to fill the gap between the train and the platform. The train also benefits from an on-board video-surveillance system as well as display screens visible from all parts of the train, audio information, Braille signs, 220 V sockets for mobile phones and laptops, and space dedicated to luggage.
The regional trains for Trenitalia will be designed and manufactured in Italy. Project development, most of the manufacturing as well as the certification, will be done in Savigliano Alstom’s site in Cuneo. The plant in Sesto San Giovanni (Milan) will be responsible for the design and manufacturing of the traction systems and auxiliary switchers. Train borne signalling systems will be delivered by the Bologna site.
