Hitachi Rail has closed the acquisition from Alstom of intellectual property rights and business activities related to Bombardier Transportation’s contribution to the ETR 1000 high-speed trains operating in Italy, France and Spain.
The transaction is part of Alstom’s commitments to the European Commission in relation to Alstom’s acquisition of Bombardier Transportation.
Hitachi Rail says the ETR 1000 trains are fast, sustainable and quiet, and are known as the Frecciarossa 1000, operated in Italy and France by Trenitalia and, within 2022, in Spain by ILSA (partnered with Trenitalia). The acquisition will mean that Hitachi Rail is now responsible for a portion of the IP and the whole maintenance contracts for the high-speed trains.
The successful close of the acquisition will allow Hitachi Rail to fully support its customers as the high-speed train increases its reach across European high-speed rail networks. The acquisition will also reinforce the strength of the Hitachi Rail’s Service and Maintenance activities.
“This is an important milestone for Hitachi Rail as we build on our global leadership in very high-speed train technology,” said Luca D’Aquila, chief operating officer, Hitachi Rail. “With the successful introduction of the ETR 1000 in France and, within 2022, in Spain we are entering an exciting new phase for this market which can have a significant impact on the economic, decarbonization and mobility strategies across the continent.
“Today’s acquisition will enable us to support our customers to continue to grow high-speed rail travel across Europe. Our mission is to enable more seamless and sustainable journeys that encourage more passengers onto the railways.”
Decarbonization impact
Hitachi Rail says the ETR 1000 has helped Italy to decarbonize its transportation sector by driving a modal shift away from planes and cars and towards lower emission rail.
Between 2009 and 2019, 350 million people have traveled on Trenitalia’s high-speed services.
The ETR 1000 design and manufacturing leads the way in environmental sustainability for high-speed rail by using 95 percent renewable materials, says Hitachi Rail.
Advanced technology for more seamless passenger experience
The ETR 1000 sets are used by Trenitalia on its core high-speed service connecting cities including Salerno, Naples, Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Milan and Turin.
The trains are operable on high-speed rail networks equipped with multi-voltage technology fulfilling all TSI requirements.
Each ETR 1000 train is around 200 meters (656.17 feet) long with capacity for around 460 passengers and capable of commercial speeds of up to 360 kph (224 mph). State-of-the-art aerodynamics and energy saving technologies give the train unmatched operating efficiency. Once onboard, passengers can enjoy Wi-Fi, a bistro area and high levels of comfort in all classes.
