Italian power heads

Bombardier Transportation has received an order from Trenitalia (Italian Railways) for the upgrade of 60 ETR 500 electric power-heads in a deal worth approximately $43 million (€35 million).

The upgrade consists of modifying 60 power-heads, which were produced in 1992 by the consortium Trevi (of which Bombardier is also a member). The modification will enable the power-heads, which are currently adapted to operate solely on high-speed lines, to operate on the conventional network when coupled with standard intercity coaches.

Moreover, the power-heads will receive a new on-board signalling system as well as electrical and mechanical modifications to enable the coupling with the standard coaches. This upgrade will enable Trenitalia to couple a set of two power-heads to a maximum of 14 standard coaches, thereby creating 30 new intercity trains, ready to travel at top speeds of about 200 Km/h.

Bombardier will be responsible for the project design and engineering, material and equipment supply for all power-heads and supervision and commissioning of the first two power-heads. The production works will be carried out by Trenitalia at its Foligno facilities.

The first 2 power-heads will be ready by July 2006 and the material and equipment deliveries for the other 58 will be completed by February 2007. The production works on the following 58 power-heads will be done in accordance to Trenitalia needs.

Bombardier has been involved in some of Italy’s most important rail projects, such as Trenitalia’s E405, E412 and E464 locomotives, the high-speed train ETR 500 (as a member of Trevi consortium), the propulsion system of the new Rome metro vehicles, and the people mover for Rome-Fiumicino airport and Milan’s Eurotram vehicles.