FS Italiane Group is pressing ahead with the installation of the European Rail Transport Management System (ERTMS) across its fleet, as part of a EUR 70 million investment supported by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) – Transport programme.
So far, the system has been fitted to 382 Trenitalia trains, with upgrades now under way on 60 locomotives from Mercitalia Rail, part of FS Logistix. The rollout will eventually cover 442 vehicles under this phase of the programme.
Upgrading Trenitalia and Mercitalia Rail fleets
The installation covers a broad spectrum of Trenitalia rolling stock, including:
- 272 regional trains
- 74 Intercity and Eurocity trains
- 36 high-speed trains
Meanwhile, Mercitalia Rail is adapting its 60 locomotives, with plans to extend the programme to its entire fleet by 2033. New locomotives for Mercitalia Rail and TX Logistik are already being delivered with ERTMS pre-installed, while some shunting locomotives operated by Mercitalia Shunting & Terminal will also be equipped.
For Trenitalia, the full installation programme is more extensive. It is expected to total around 2,000 onboard systems with an investment of EUR 700 million by 2030.
Strategic importance for FS Group
Stefano Antonio Donnarumma, CEO and General Director of FS Group, emphasised the central role of the programme:
“The installation of ERTMS onboard trains is a crucial step, fully integrated with the initiatives FS Group is implementing on the rail network. This operation is essential to ensure dialogue between onboard and infrastructure technologies, delivering a significant improvement in service quality in terms of both safety and innovation. The initiative is aligned with the objectives of the FS Group Strategic Plan 2025–2029, which targets 100% of the Core Extended network equipped with ERTMS by 2040.”
The move will make the FS fleet fully interoperable and compliant with European standards, allowing trains to operate seamlessly on high-speed lines across the continent and improving connectivity with key international destinations.
ERTMS is the most advanced signalling system currently available worldwide. Chosen by the European Union as the single standard for train supervision and control, it enhances network performance by improving traffic flow, capacity, and safety.
Its adoption by FS Group is part of a broader modernisation strategy aimed at building a more efficient and sustainable rail system.
Infrastructure modernisation in parallel
Alongside onboard systems, FS Group is also modernising its infrastructure. Through Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), the network operator within the group, ERTMS has already been installed on an additional 1,400 km of track with the support of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
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