FS Class E.491 and E.492
| Industry | Railway locomotive manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980s |
| Founder | Fiat Ferroviaria, Gio. Ansaldo & C. |
| Headquarters | Italy |
| Products | FS Class E.491 and E.492 electric locomotives |
The FS Class E.491 and E.492 represent a series of Italian electric locomotives operating on a 25 kV, 50 Hz AC system, developed throughout the 1980s by the TEAM consortium—an alliance including Fiat Ferroviaria, Gio. Ansaldo & C., among others. The locomotive's aesthetic and structural design was crafted by renowned Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The E.491 series was engineered primarily for freight service with a maximum speed of 140 kilometres per hour (87 mph), whereas the E.492 variant targeted high-speed passenger operations, capable of reaching 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph).
Intended use
These locomotives were originally planned to serve on Sardinia’s rail network amid anticipated electrification efforts. However, the cancellation of this electrification project occurred after numerous units had already been produced. Given that Italy’s mainland railways predominantly utilize a 3 kV DC overhead system (with exceptions limited to high-speed lines) and these locomotives were compatible exclusively with the 25 kV AC supply, they never transitioned into operational service.
Disposal
Efforts by FS to transfer these locomotives to other national rail operators in countries such as France and Bulgaria did not come to fruition. Ultimately, in 2008, all twenty-five units were sold to Fruilexport, a firm based in Niš, Serbia. It is believed that these locomotives may subsequently be deployed on Serbia’s existing 25 kV AC railway infrastructure.