50 “Caravaggio” regional trains are to be supplied by Hitachi Rail STS SpA following the signing of a third contract with FERROVIENORD for €451,850,000.
The “Caravaggio” regional trains are double-deck, bi-directional, distributed power, 3 kV electric multiple units and seat between 466 and 598 passengers. Some of the features of the new trains that will benefit passengers are LED Lighting, WiFi, 220V and USB sockets. passenger information systems, bike racks and e-bike charging facilities.
Accessibility features include mobile platforms to help passengers with reduced mobility negotiate the gap between the door and the platform. Environmental benefits of the new trains will see a 30% electric energy consumption reduction, lower noise levels, brake energy regeneration and the use of materials allowing for an overall weight reduction, whilst providing reusability of 96% and biodegradation of 95%
40 of the newly ordered trains will be in a long configuration (5 cars) with a further 10 in a short configuration (4 cars). Previous contracts awarded have seen 55 high capacity trains ordered of which 30 are in short configuration with 21 delivered and in revenue service, with 20 long configuration trains also ordered which will start to be delivered during December 2021. 5 ‘Rock' trains were also ordered and are currently in revenue service.
The latest supply contract is part of the Lombardy Region Plan and is for fleet renewal and will see a huge 222 new trains at a total cost of €1.958 billion and will bring 131 “Caravaggio” trains in total. The new contract sees delivery set to commence from October 2022 until October 2024 with the trains being built at Hitachi Rail's factories in Reggio Calabria and Naples.
President of Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, and the city council member for Infrastructure, Transport & Sustainable Mobility, Claudia Maria Terzi, said: “The regional investments are gradually taking place: 36 new trains purchased by Lombardy Region are already in operation on the Lombardy rail network. When the overall delivery plan is completed, the trains in service will be – on average – 12-year old, the lowest level ever reached in Lombardy. This investment allows to replace the oldest vehicles of the fleet inherited from the State. No other Region has invested so much like we did from this perspective. The aim is to make rail transport more efficient. Offering brand new, state-of-the-art trains means improving passengers travel experience and all the efforts made by the Region are going in this direction.”
FNM President, Andrea Gibelli, said: “The thorough Trenord fleet renewal plan, launched in 2017 thanks to the financing and guidelines of Lombardy Region, is proceeding. The new trains are progressively entering into revenue service with tangible benefits in terms of service quality and comfort, and a sensible contribution to sustainability. The new trains assure a significant reduction of energy consumption and are manufactured with almost entirely recyclable materials”.
President of FERROVIENORD, Paolo Nozza, said: “We are steadily working to guarantee the correct and efficient delivery of the supplies. We are proud to contribute to the concrete realization of this great plan promoted by the Region for the improvement of Lombardy rail transport”.
Head of Sales & Projects Italy Rolling Stock of Hitachi Rail Andrea Pepi, said: “The introduction of our modern train fleets in Lombardy is a reason of great pride for our business, and we're delighted with this new order. With our trains we aim to increase sustainable mobility by providing attractive products that encourage people to switch from private car to public transport in line with our decarbonization strategy”.
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