Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 expansion targets 74 trains

Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 expansion sits within a 2 billion EUR programme aimed at growing high-speed services and renewing the wider fleet, as reported by Railway-News. Chief Executive Gianpiero Strisciuglio said the operator plans to introduce 74 additional Frecciarossa 1000 trains by the end of the decade.

The strategy was presented at the Masseria Winter Edition Forum. There, Strisciuglio set out priorities for capacity growth, technological development and stronger competition across European passenger rail markets.

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Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 expansion and the 74 new trains

The planned acquisition of 74 Frecciarossa 1000 units is positioned as the main element of the programme, according to International Railway Journal. Trenitalia expects the new high-speed trains to run on domestic high-speed corridors and on selected international routes.

The additional rolling stock is intended to support higher service frequency on busy lines. Still, the plan also aims to enable further cross-border operations as part of the longer-term development of the Frecciarossa brand.

Gianpiero Strisciuglio , CEO and General Manager of Trenitalia said:

2026 will see the continuation of Trenitalia’s fleet expansion plan, which has the Frecciarossa as its successful product and brand.

Regional fleet renewal and Intercity hybrid, electric and battery trains

Alongside high-speed investment, the operator confirmed continued renewal of regional rolling stock, partly supported by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Trenitalia said more than 80 percent of its regional fleet now consists of newer-generation trains—over 1,000 vehicles out of roughly 1,300.

The company expects the average age of regional trains to fall to between five and ten years by 2027. In addition, in the Intercity segment, more than 30 new trains using hybrid, electric and battery technologies are scheduled for introduction, aimed at improving services on routes that are not fully electrified.

Onboard connectivity: 5G network trials on Turin–Milan

Trenitalia is also examining digital connectivity improvements. Trials of a dedicated 5G network have taken place on the Turin–Milan corridor.

Separately, the operator said it is assessing additional options, including satellite-based systems, to reduce coverage gaps and improve onboard internet access. Strisciuglio said connectivity remains a priority for passenger experience and that several technical solutions are under review.

Operational context within the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane group

The Frecciarossa fleet expansion is intended to increase available capacity and make greater use of existing rail infrastructure, reflecting rising demand for high-speed rail in Italy’s liberalised market. Trenitalia positioned the programme within the broader strategy of the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane group.

At the same time, the operator expects operational benefits to include improved energy efficiency, higher seat occupancy and reduced operating costs per seat-kilometre. Trenitalia also framed the programme as part of efforts to strengthen rail’s role within national mobility and support the transition toward lower-emission transport options.

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