ITALYS FAST TRAIN
The ETR 500 Elettro Treno Rapido 500 is an Italian high-speed train introduced in 1993. Designed under the aegis of the Ferrovie dello Stato (FS)
Italy was already a pioneer in rail travel in the 1930s, it was not until the 1960s that the first high speed lines were planned. The opening of the Direttissima line, connecting Florence with Rome, in stages between 1978 and 1991 was the first high speed line in Europe.
In the 1990s FS finally unveiled plans to build a whole new high speed network. As the larger part of the network would be suited for speeds of 186 mph, new, non-tilting trains had to be designed as the tilting equipment used in the ETR 450, 460 and 480 Pendolino series was not suited for speeds of over 155 mph.
The new train was to be built by the TREVI (TREno Veloce Italiano, "Italian Fast Train" In 1988 the first prototype motorcar, called "ETR 500-X" and nicknamed "Remo", rolled out of the factory during testing it reached a record speed of 198 mph. In 1990 the 2 first complete trainsets, called "ETR 500-Y" and nicknamed "Romolo" were delivered. They were used as test units between their delivery and 1995, when the first production sets entered into service.Between 1995 and 1997 they were also used in normal commercial service when there was a shortage of normal ETR.500 trainsets.
After the success of the 2 prototypes, FS decided to order 30 mono-current trainsets supporting the 3 kV DC supply of existing lines. Delivered between 1992 and 1996, with interiors styled by design company Pininfarina, they consist of 2 motorcars four 1st class cars, a restaurant car, and six 2nd class cars and has a Top Speed of 211 mph.
The Eurostar
The U.S. needs a FAST TRAIN how about LA to LAS VEGAS.
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Categories: Stigza
Tags: Elettro Treno Rapido 500 ETR 500 Italy Fast Trains The Eurostar stigza
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