STADLER’s EC250 Giruno high-speed train travelled through the Gotthard Base Tunnel for the first time on July 2, and the Giruno steps up its high-speed testingon the Velim test circuit in the Czech Republic.

ITALIAN Rail Network (RFI) has awarded Ansaldo STS a two-year €100m technical assistance and maintenance contract for its train control solutions installed across the Italian main line and high-speed network.

STADLER handed over the first bi-mode Flirt multiple unit at its plant in Bussnang, Switzerland, on June 15. The train, which is equipped with a 3 kV dc drive for electrified lines and a diesel-electric drive for non-electrified lines, is destined for the Valle d’Aosta region in Italy.

TRENITALIA launched its summer timetable on June 11 with Frecciarossa 1000 high-speed trains operating in multiple for the first time.

ITALIAN State Railways (FS) confirmed on June 9 that it has acquired a 36.7% stake in Milan Metro Line M5 concessionaire Metro 5 from Astaldi, making it the lead shareholder in the consortium.

THE Italian region of Tuscany has renewed its contract with Tuscan Railway Transport (TFT), which operates passenger and freight services in the Province of Arezzo.

THE prime minister of Italy Mr Paulo Gentiloni travelled to Campania on a Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 high-speed train on June 6 to inaugurate the first phase of Naples Afragola station.

STADLER presented the first of 29 Giruno 250km/h electric trains to Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) at a ceremony in Bussnang on May 18 attended by the president of the Swiss Confederation, Ms Doris Leuthard, and the CEO of SBB Mr Andreas Meyer.

ITALY’s national operator Trenitalia has launched a tender for a €1.6bn framework contract to supply up to 135 diesel-electric passenger trains and to maintain them for 15 years.

ITALIAN Railway Network (RFI) published a tender notice in the Official Journal of the European Union on April 14 for contracts to upgrade the 37km Bicocca - Catenanuova section of the Palermo - Catania line.