The first of Italy’s new Rock train class has left Hitachi Rail Italy’s factory in Pistoia to begin testing.
Due to enter service in spring 2019 on the Emilia-Romagna lines, the first train is now making its way to the Velim test track in the Czech Republic.
A ceremony was held at the factory to celebrate the milestone. The event was attended by Renato Mazzoncini, managing director of the FS Group Italiane; Orazio Iacono, managing director of Trenitalia; and Maurizio Manfellotto, chief executive of Hitachi Rail Italy.
Trenitalia signed a framework agreement with Hitachi in August 2016 for 300 high-capacity EMUs. The €3 billion order included four, five and six-car trains.
Hitachi has said the Rock is 30 per cent more energy efficient than comparable vehicles on the market.
The Rock follows a recent tradition at Trenitalia of naming its train classes after musical genres. The operator also has Swing, Pop and Jazz series trains.
By 2023, Trenitalia will have renewed 75 per cent its regional train fleet. The modernisation programme will halve the average age of its trains from 20.3 years to 10.6.
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