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Italian high-speed trainset From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ETR 500 (Elettro Treno Rapido 500) is a family of Italian high-speed trains built by AnsaldoBreda and introduced in 1993.
| ETR.500 (mono-current) ETR 500 (bi-current) ETR 500 F (tri-current) | |
|---|---|
The ETR 500 "Frecciarossa" of the Italian Railways | |
| Manufacturer | AnsaldoBreda |
| Family name | Elettro Treno Rapido 500 |
| Operators |
|
| Specifications | |
| Electric system(s) | Overhead catenary, 3 kV DC, ETR.500 (mono) + 25 kV 50 Hz AC, ETR 500 (bi) + 1.5 kV, ETR 500 F (tri) |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Designed under the aegis of the Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), it is now operated by Trenitalia on RFI tracks.
From 2018 to 2023, Mercitalia converted and used some ETR 500 trains for Mercitalia Fast high-speed freight train service.
The opening of the Direttissima line, connecting Florence with Rome, in stages between 1978 and 1991 was the first high speed line in Europe. Then, in the 1990s, FS unveiled plans to build a whole new high speed network. As the larger part of the network would be suited for speeds of 300 km/h (190 mph), new, non-tilting trains had to be designed as the tilting equipment used in the ETR 450, 460 and 480 Pendolino series was not suited for speeds of over 250 km/h (155 mph).
The new train was to be built by the TREVI (TREno Veloce Italiano, "Italian Fast Train") consortium, formed by Breda Costuzioni Ferroviarie, FIAT Ferroviaria, Tecnomasio and Firema Trasporti.
In 1988 the first prototype motorcar, called ETR 500-X and nicknamed "Remo," as the brother of the first Roman king, rolled out of the factory in Vado Ligure. It was tested on the Direttissima line in the combination of a measuring car and an E 444 locomotive, reaching a record speed of 319 km/h (198 mph).
In 1990 the 2 first complete trainsets, called ETR 500-Y and nicknamed "Romolo," as the first Roman king, were delivered. They were used as test units between their delivery and 1995, when the first production sets entered into service. Between 1995 and 1997 they were also used in normal commercial service when there was a shortage of normal ETR.500 trainsets.
The 3 motorcars of the prototype sets are now based at different locations in Italy and unfortunately have been vandalised and graffitized. The middle cars of the 2 ETR 500-Y sets are now part of the two RFI ETR.500 test trains Y1 and Y2.
| ETR.500 (mono-current) | |
|---|---|
 ETR.500 mono-current powercar at Roma Termini. | |
| In service | 1992–2007 |
| Manufacturer | Trevi (consortium of Breda Costuzioni Ferroviarie, FIAT Ferroviaria, Tecnomasio and Firema Trasporti) |
| Refurbished | 2006–2008, transformation into E.414 |
| Number built | 30 trainsets |
| Formation | 11-car trainset |
| Capacity | 187 (1st class) 469 (2nd class) |
| Operators | FS/Trenitalia |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 327.6 m (1,074 ft 10 in) |
| Maximum speed | 300 km/h (190 mph) |
| Weight | 598 t (589 long tons; 659 short tons) |
| Power output | 8,800 kW (11,801 hp) |
| Electric system(s) | Overhead catenary, 3 kV DC |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| Safety system(s) | RS4, SCMT |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
After the success of the 2 prototypes, FS decided to order 30 mono-current trainsets supporting the 3 kV DC supply of existing lines. Delivered between 1992 and 1996, with interiors styled by design company Pininfarina, they consist of 2 motorcars (numbered E 404 100 to 159), four first class cars, a restaurant car, and six second class cars. Although suited for driving 300 km/h (190 mph), they were limited to 250 km/h (155 mph) on the Direttissima as the current drawn from the catenary at 300 km/h (190 mph) would be too high. This was also the reason why a second generation, dual-voltage trains was ordered.
Major routes of this train were Chiusi-Milan, Florence-Naples, Milan-Rome Termini, Milan-Naples, Bologna-Rome Termini, Milan-Salerno, Milan-Venice, Venice-Rome Termini.
Between 2006 and 2008, the first generation trains have been upgraded with newly built E.404 6xx dual-voltage motorcars, coupled to the existing middle cars. All E.404 0xx motorcars of the older trainsets have been refurbished and transformed into locomotives of the type E.414, to haul EuroStarCity and later Frecciabianca trains on selected routes. These trains consist of two E.414 locomotives and 10 former Intercity UIC-Z coaches. Although the coaches are "normal" Intercity coaches, they will mostly remain in semi-permanent coupled formation with the two E.414 locomotives.
| ETR 500 (bi-current) ETR F 500 (tri-current) | |
|---|---|
 ETR.500 "AV" at Milano Centrale. | |
| In service | 2000 – present |
| Manufacturer | Trevi (consortium of Alstom, Bombardier, AnsaldoBreda) |
| Refurbished | 2012 (replacing 1st and 2nd class with 4 levels of service) |
| Number built | 30 complete trainsets + 60 power cars (for 1st generation mono-current sets) |
| Number in service | 59 trainsets |
| Formation | power car + 11 middle cars + power car (original-2004, 2011-present) 12 middle cars (2004-2010) 8 middle cars (ETR 500 F, Turin-Milan) |
| Capacity | 11 middle cars: 187 (1st class) 469 (2nd class) 12 middle cars: 195 (1st class) 476 (2nd class) 8 middle cars: 136 (1st class) 268 (2nd class); From 2012: 574 seats. Executive 8 armchairs + meeting room for 6 people (coach 1); Business 159 (coaches 1, 2, 3, 4); Bar- Bistrot (coach 5); Premium 67 (coach 6); Standard 340 (coaches 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) |
| Operators | FS/Trenitalia |
| Lines served | Torino-Milano-Bologna-Firenze-Roma-Napoli-Salerno; Torino-Milano-Verona-Padova-Venezia-Trieste/Udine; Venezia-Padova-Bologna-Firenze-Roma-Napoli-Salerno; Milano-Bologna-Ancona-Pescara-Bari-(Lecce) |
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 327.6 m (1,074 ft 10 in) (original formation) |
| Maximum speed | 360 km/h (225 mph) |
| Weight | 598 t (589 long tons; 659 short tons) |
| Power output | 8,800 kW (11,800 hp) |
| Electric system(s) | Overhead catenary, 3 kV DC, 25 kV 50 Hz AC (+ 1.5 kV DC for ETR.500 F) |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph |
| Safety system(s) | RS4, SCMT, ETCS (+ KVB and TVM430 for ETR.500 F) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
With the new high-speed lines finally in construction, FS chose to electrify the lines at 25 kV 50 Hz AC instead of 3 kV DC as used on the classic network. This allows the trains to drive at their top speed of 300 km/h (190 mph), as 3 kV is technically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph) operation. As the first generation trains can not operate off 25 kV AC, new trains had to be ordered. As the new trains can run both off 25 kV AC and 3 kV DC, they were designated P for politensione (multi-voltage).
The new power cars of the trains feature a totally different design than the first generation trainsets, although also designed by design company Pininfarina. These new trains, delivered between 2000 and 2005, consist in original formation of 2 motorcars, four 1st class cars, a restaurant car, and six 2nd class cars. However, with the addition of a Business class car after the four 1st class cars to all trainsets, expansion to 12 middle cars was finished in 2004.[1]
The ETR 500 P started regular service with their commercial top speed of 300 km/h (190 mph) on the Rome-Naples and Torino-Novara high-speed lines, when those lines were opened for revenue service on 22 December 2005 resp. 1 February 2006.[2]
The second generation trains can be divided in multiple sub-series. They were delivered in three batches:
In addition, there are rebuilt and refurbished versions:
The last speed record is 362 km/h (225 mph) (also trainset Y1) between Florence and Bologna.[15] This represents the "indoors" world speed record, as the speed was reached in the Monte Bibele tunnel on the new high speed line between Bologna and Florence.[16]
By the end of 2017 Trenitalia will have 50 new ETR 1000 able to reach 360 to 400 km/h (225 to 250 mph).[17]
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