FS Class ETR 500

History

The opening of the Direttissima line between Florence and Rome, in stages from 1978 to 1991, was Europe's first high-speed line. In the 1990s, FS announced plans for a new high-speed network suited for 300 km/h, requiring non-tilting trains. The TREVI consortium, comprising Breda Costuzioni Ferroviarie, FIAT Ferroviaria, Tecnomasio, and Firema Trasporti, was formed to build the new train.

Prototypes

In 1988, the first prototype motorcar, ETR 500-X nicknamed "Remo," was rolled out from the Vado Ligure factory. Tested on the Direttissima with a measuring car and an E 444 locomotive, it reached 319 km/h. Two complete trainsets, ETR 500-Y nicknamed "Romolo," were delivered in 1990 and used as test units until 1995, then occasionally in commercial service until 1997. The prototype motorcars now sit vandalised at various Italian locations; the middle cars of the Y sets belong to RFI test trains Y1 and Y2.

First generation

After the prototypes, FS ordered 30 mono-current trainsets for 3 kV DC lines, delivered between 1992 and 1996. Each set had two motorcars (E 404 100 to 159), four first class cars, a restaurant car, and six second class cars, with interiors by Pininfarina.

Though capable of 300 km/h, they were limited to 250 km/h on the Direttissima due to high current draw. Major routes included Chiusi-Milan, Florence-Naples, Milan-Rome Termini, and others. From 2006 to 2008, these sets were upgraded with new dual-voltage E.404 6xx motorcars; the old E.404 0xx units were refurbished as E.414 locomotives for EuroStarCity and Frecciabianca trains, hauling ten former Intercity UIC-Z coaches.

Second generation

With new high-speed lines electrified at 25 kV AC instead of 3 kV DC, new multi-voltage trains were needed to reach 300 km/h. Designated ETR 500 P (politensione), these trains feature power cars of a different design, also by Pininfarina. Delivered between 2000 and 2005, the original formation had two motorcars, four first class cars, a restaurant car, and six second class cars; a Business class car was added after the first class cars, expanding to 12 middle cars by 2004.

The ETR 500 P began 300 km/h service on the Rome-Naples line on 22 December 2005 and the Torino-Novara line on 1 February 2006. The second generation includes sub-series: ETR 500 P ord. '96 (sets 31-60, power cars E.404 500-559), ETR 500 P ord. '02 (sets 1-30, power cars E.404 600-659), and four additional power cars (E.404 660-663) delivered in 2007-8 to replace units sold to RFI. A tri-current version, ETR 500 F, was modified for France with 1.5 kV DC capability and had eight middle cars; sets 39, 54, 58, and 60 were tested on LGV Nord from 2001 to 2005 but never received type approval, and were rebuilt as standard P units in 2006-7.