Marco Chiandoni

THE government of Ivory Coast has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italian State Railways' (FS) engineering subsidiary Italferr to carry out feasibility studies and a preliminary project report on a 1000km line linking Ivory Coast and Mali.

THE steering committee of Italian open-access high-speed operator NTV met at its headquarters in Rome on October 1 to deliberate on the next steps and future goals for the company, including an order for new trains and an increase in the company's capital.

FRECCIAROSSA ETR 500 high-speed trains are now running from Milan to Bari in southeastern Italy for the first time following the replacement of a Frecciabianca train on a daily round trip.

PLANS for the electrification of the 60km Merano - Malles Venosta Valley line in northern Italy were presented to local mayors on September 17 by South Tyrol provincial councillor for mobility Mr Florian Mussner and the president of South Tyrol Transport Authority (STA) Mr Martin Ausserdorfer.

TRENITALIA has issued a tender for framework contracts to supply up to 500 regional multiple units in what looks set to be one of Italy's largest orders for new rolling stock in 30 years.

NAPLES Mobility Company (ANM) has issued a tender for a contract worth around €100m to supply 10 new trains for Naples metro Line 1.

THE board of Italian State Railways (FS) has approved plans to break up Grandi Stazioni, the subsidiary responsible for managing and modernising 14 of Italy's most important stations.

SHAREHOLDERS in Italian open-access operator NTV agreed at a meeting in Rome on July 17 to increase the company's capital by €100m.

TRENITALIA marked the introduction of Pesa ATR 220 Swing DMUs on regional lines in central Tuscany on July 13, when one of the new trains was formally presented to Tuscany's regional councillor for infrastructure and transport Mr Vincenzo Ceccarelli and the mayor of Siena Mr Bruno Valentini by Trenitalia CEO Mr Vincenzo Soprano.

EMILIA Romagna Railways (FER) has awarded a 15-year contract to operate passenger and bus services in the Italian region to a temporary joint venture of Trenitalia and Emilia Romagna Passenger Transport (TPER).