Marco Chiandoni

TRENITALIA's latest-generation high-speed train the Frecciarossa 1000 (ETR 1000) set a new Italian rail speed record on November 26, when one of the eight-car sets reached 389km/h during nocturnal testing on the Milan - Turin high-speed line.

PLANS for the partial privatisation of Italian State Railways (FS) took a step forward on November 23 when Italy's Council of Ministers granted preliminary approval for the sale of a 40% stake in the company.

THE eight new CAF EDU ATR365 trains for Sardinia will enter service with the start of the 2016 timetable on December 13 after Italy's Agency for National Railway Safety certified the trains for operation.

THE results of a feasibility study led by Tuscany and Umbria into building a new station on the Florence - Rome high-speed line were presented to local mayors, chambers of commerce as well as Trenitalia, NTV and Italian Rail Network (RFI) officials on November 3.

THE first of 10 new trains supplied by Hitachi Rail, formerly AnsaldoBreda, for Milan metro Line 2 entered service on November 4 with metropolitan city councillor for mobility Mr Pierfrancesco Maran, councillor for public works Ms Carmela Rozza, vice major of Milan Mr Eugenio Comincini and president of Milan Transport (ATM) Mr Bruno Rota all participating in the inaugural journey.

ITALIAN Railway Network (RFI) CEO Mr Maurizio Gentile joined the mayor of Rimini Mr Andrea Gnassi, Emilia-Romagna regional councillor for infrastructure and transport Mr Raffaele Donini, and regional finance councillor Mrs Emma Petitti in Rimini on October 28 to outline plans for three-year project to upgrade the 112km Bologna - Rimini line.

ROME-based open-access operator Italian Railway Company (CFI) announced on October 23 that it is acquiring Italian railfreight operator RailOne for €8.6m from Gruppo Toto.

TURIN City Council approved a resolution on October 20 authorising the start of tendering for contracts to construct the city's second driverless metro line.

LOMBARDY regional councillor for infrastructure and mobility Mr Alessandro Sorte announced on October 16 that the regional council will invest €68.2m in additional new trains for the Trenord joint venture between North Milan Railways (FNM) and Trenitalia.

FOLLOWING a campaign by Puglia regional president Mr Michele Emiliano and the local media, Trenitalia has confirmed that it will extend its Milan - Bologna - Bari Frecciarossa service launched in September to Lecce.