FS Class ETR 500

ETR 500
Company type	Train series
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	1993
Founder	Ferrovie dello Stato (FS)
Products	High-speed trains
Owner	Trenitalia
Parent	Ferrovie dello Stato (FS)

ETR 500 (Elettro Treno Rapido 500) represents a series of Italian high-speed trains manufactured by AnsaldoBreda and first introduced in 1993. Developed under the auspices of Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), these trains are presently operated by Trenitalia on tracks managed by RFI.

From 2018 through 2023, several ETR 500 units were adapted by Mercitalia for their Mercitalia Fast service, focusing on high-speed freight transportation.

History

The launch of the Direttissima line between 1978 and 1991 established Europe’s inaugural high-speed rail corridor. During the 1990s, FS envisioned expanding this network to support speeds reaching . This expansion necessitated new train models without tilting mechanisms since the Pendolino series—including ETR 450, ETR 460, and ETR 480—were limited to .

The TREVI consortium (TREno Veloce Italiano, meaning "Italian Fast Train")—composed of Breda Costuzioni Ferroviarie, FIAT Ferroviaria, Tecnomasio, and Firema Trasporti—was tasked with constructing the new fleet.

Prototypes

In 1988, the initial prototype motorcar, designated ETR 500-X ("Remo"), was assembled in Vado Ligure and tested on the Direttissima line alongside an E 444 locomotive, achieving a record speed of .

By 1990, two full trainsets called ETR 500-Y ("Romolo") were delivered for testing purposes until 1995; they subsequently served in commercial roles during periods of train shortages. The prototype motorcars are now scattered across Italy, some suffering vandalism, while their intermediate cars have been incorporated into RFI's test trains Y1 and Y2.

First generation

Following positive prototype results, FS commissioned 30 single-voltage trainsets compatible with 3 kV DC electrification, delivered from 1992 to 1996 featuring interiors designed by Pininfarina. Each set comprises eleven cars: two motorcars (E 404 100–159), four first-class coaches, one dining car, and six second-class coaches. Although engineered for speeds up to , operational limits restricted them to due to catenary current restrictions. This limitation led to orders for dual-voltage second-generation units.

Primary routes included connections such as Chiusi-Milan, Florence-Naples, Milan-Rome Termini, Bologna-Rome Termini, and Venice-Rome Termini.

Between 2006 and 2008, these trains underwent upgrades installing new dual-voltage E.404 6xx motorcars while retaining existing middle cars. The original E.404 0xx motorcars were refurbished into E.414 locomotives deployed for hauling EuroStarCity and later Frecciabianca services, operating in pairs with ten former Intercity UIC-Z coaches configured semi-permanently.

Second generation

As new high-speed lines were developed, FS chose to electrify them at rather than the traditional 3 kV DC, enabling trains to reach maximum speeds of , compared to the previous limit of under the older system. Since first-generation trains lacked compatibility with 25 kV AC systems, new multi-system (politensione) trains were commissioned.

The second generation introduced power cars redesigned by Pininfarina and was delivered between 2000 and 2005. Initial configurations consisted of two motorcars, four first-class cars, one restaurant car, and six second-class cars; by 2004, a Business class car was added, expanding formations to twelve intermediate coaches.

Commercial operations for ETR 500 P trains commenced at speeds up to on Rome-Naples and Torino-Novara lines in late 2005 and early 2006.

Deliveries occurred in three distinct groups:

ETR 500 P ord. '96 (sets numbered 31-60; power cars E.404 500-559): entirely new trainsets.
ETR 500 P ord. '02 (sets numbered 1-30; power cars E.404 600-659): new power cars combined with first-generation middle cars.
Power cars E.404 660-663: replacements for four units sold to infrastructure manager RFI, delivered during 2007-2008.

Reconstructed variants include:

ETR 500 F: tri-system sets adapted for French operations with eight intermediate cars; trialed on LGV Nord from 2001 to 2005 but never authorized for routine cross-border service; reverted to standard P configuration by 2007.
ETR 500 Y1 and Y2: RFI test trains utilizing old middle coaches paired with new power units for commissioning new lines.
ETR 500 P eight-car sets: shortened formations designed for Turin-Milan routes due to platform length restrictions at Malpensa Airport; one set featured a special livery for the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Regarding branding developments:

In 2005, Trenitalia introduced the AV (Alta Velocità) brand for its high-speed offerings, updating interiors and exterior liveries across all ETR 500 units.
By 2008, Trenitalia launched the Frecciarossa brand covering services between and , incorporating models such as the ETR 500, ETR 1000, ETR 600, and ETR 700.
In May 2022, Trenitalia unveiled the "Summer Experience" initiative, rebranding the ETR 600 and ETR 700 from Frecciargento to Frecciarossa featuring updated red-striped liveries; this transition was completed by December 2022 for the ETR 700 and by March 2023 for the ETR 600.

Speed Achievements

On 2 June 2005, test trainset 54 of the ETR 500 F, equipped with motor units E.404 500 and 526, reached a speed of 350.8 km/h between Lille and Marne-la Vallée in France.
The ETR 500 P set 31, reduced to eight intermediate cars, attained a velocity of 335 km/h on the Rome-Naples route on 7 September 2005.
This same trainset later achieved 336 km/h on 5 October 2005, while the ETR 500 Y2 registered a speed of 331 km/h on the Turin-Novara line on 25 May 2006.
During commissioning trials on Turkey's Ankara-Eskişehir high-speed corridor, the ETR 500 Y2 established a national speed record at 303 km/h.
On 1 March 2008, the ETR 500 Y1 reached a top speed of 300 km/h along the Milan-Bologna section.
The highest documented velocity is 362 km/h by trainset Y1 between Florence and Bologna, setting a world indoor speed record inside the Monte Bibele tunnel on the newly constructed high-speed line.

By late 2017, Trenitalia intended to introduce a fleet of 50 new ETR 1000 trains with operational speeds ranging from 300 to 360 km/h.

References

Der italienische Hochgeschwindigkeitszug ETR 500 (1. Auslieferung).Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge.com (German)
Der italienische Hochgeschwindigkeitszug ETR 500 (2. Serie).Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge.com (German)

External links