words by Carol King
Trenitalia has unveiled the Frecciarossa 1000 (Red Arrow 1000) high-speed train, which is set to go into service in 2013.
Described as “the technological gem set to revolutionise Italian and international high-speed rail transport”, the Frecciarossa 1000 has a maximum speed of 400 km/h (249 mph). Said to be “‘the fastest train ever mass produced in Europe”, Trenitalia anticipates the Frecciarossa 1000 to operate at speeds of up to 360 km/h (224 mph) on the Alta Velocità (High Speed) line between Turin and Salerno, cutting the journey time from Rome to Milan to 2 hours 20 minutes.
Frecciarossa 1000 will be the first entirely interoperable high-speed train in Europe. A multi-voltage train conforming to the European Technical Specifications for Interoperability, it will be able to cross borders and travel on all of Europe’s high-speed networks: in France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium.
The front of the train has the same distinctive profile as the original Frecciarossa but is designed to satisfy the different requirements in terms of aerodynamics, safety and comfort for the train drivers. Trenitalia says the Frecciarossa 1000 is the most silent train in Europe with the fewest vibrations and the lowest environmental impact. The use of light alloys for the carriage casings and furnishing ensure an excellent mass/power ration, and allow for recovering materials once the train is decommissioned to minimise impact on the environment.
The Frecciarossa 1000 is also designed for comfort. Its carriages are equipped with active suspensions that compensate for the centrifugal acceleration typical of high-speed travel. The interiors have been designed Giugiaro. Power sockets for PCs and wi-fi connectivity will be available.
Passengers on Frecciarossa 1000 will be able to choose from four different service levels: Executive, Business, Premium and Standard. Travellers in Executive carriages will be able to choose from a gourmet menu created by top Italian chef, restaurateur and food critic, Gianfranco Vissani.
Meantime, Trenitalia’s competitor, Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori, has introduced a new high-speed train service that links Venice, Mestre and Padua to Bologna, Florence and Rome. On 9 December, the company also introduced a service between Turin Porta Susa and Milan with a journey time of 44 minutes.
