FS Class ETR 200
| Industry | Rail vehicle manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1886 |
| Fate | Merged into AnsaldoBreda |
Template:Infobox EMU The ETR 200 (an acronym for "ElettroTreno Elettro Treno Rapido 200", which in Italian translates to "Rapid Electric Train series 200") is an Italian electric multiple unit (EMU) introduced in 1936.
On July 20, 1939, the ETR 200 number 12 achieved a world record for average speed on the route between Bologna and Milan.
Development and records
During the 1930s, the Italian state railway company, Ferrovie dello Stato, electrified the primary Milan-Bologna-Florence-Rome-Naples corridor and required a high-speed train capable of operating on this and other newly electrified lines. The development began in 1934, incorporating advanced steel construction techniques and aerodynamic design principles. The train's distinctive streamlined nose was engineered following wind tunnel experiments conducted at the Politecnico di Torino.
Constructed by Società Italiana Ernesto Breda (now part of AnsaldoBreda) in 1936, the initial model featured an articulated configuration with distributed traction across three cars resting on four bogies. Two of these were Jacobs bogies shared between cars. The propulsion system included one T 62-R-100 motor on one bogie, while the front and rear bogies each housed two similar motors.
Although designed to reach speeds up to 175 km/h (109 mph), early pantographs experienced operational issues beyond approximately 130 km/h (81 mph). The ETR 200 entered regular service in 1937 along the Bologna-Rome-Naples line. It was regarded as one of Europe's fastest and most comfortable trains at the time. Notably, Benito Mussolini arranged for one unit to be exhibited at the 1939 New York World's Fair. On December 6, 1937, the ETR 201[note 1] reached a peak velocity of 201 km/h (125 mph) on the Rome-Naples line between Campoleone and Nettunia stations.
On July 20, 1939, driven by Alessandro Cervellati, the ETR 212 set a new world record for average speed over an entire run between Florence and Milan, achieving 165 km/h (103 mph). Additionally, it broke the absolute top speed record by reaching 203 km/h (126 mph) on the segment from Pontenure to Piacenza. Contrary to popular legend, historical evidence does not support claims that Benito Mussolini personally operated the train during this record-setting run.
Later developments
Production of the ETR 200 ceased due to the outbreak of World War II, with numerous units sustaining damage from Allied air raids. During the early 1960s, the sixteen surviving sets underwent modifications, transforming into ETR 220/230/240 models by incorporating a fourth carriage along with various enhancements. These trains continued operating until the early 1980s and were subsequently employed for charter services through the 1990s.
The ETR 232, originally numbered 212 and known for its 1939 speed record run, has been preserved as a historic train and remains fully operational. Another unit, no longer functional, was initially stored in Ancona before being dismantled in September 2012.
See also
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Notes
- ↑ The numbering system for FS high-speed trainsets differs from standard conventions; it includes a leading digit indicating the group followed by a two-digit progressive number identifying individual units. For instance, unit 212 represents the twelfth trainset in group 200. Subsequent upgrades led to group designations such as 220/230/240, with unit numbers adjusted accordingly (e.g., unit 212 became unit 232).
References
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