LOMBARDY regional councillor for infrastructure and mobility Mr Alessandro Sorte announced on October 16 that the regional council will invest €68.2m in additional new trains for the Trenord joint venture between North Milan Railways (FNM) and Trenitalia.

FOLLOWING a campaign by Puglia regional president Mr Michele Emiliano and the local media, Trenitalia has confirmed that it will extend its Milan - Bologna - Bari Frecciarossa service launched in September to Lecce.

THE steering committee of Italian open-access high-speed operator NTV met at its headquarters in Rome on October 1 to deliberate on the next steps and future goals for the company, including an order for new trains and an increase in the company's capital.

NEW trains were introduced on Rome's Leonardo Express airport rail link on October 2, whe Italy's transport minister Mr Graziano Delrio, Lazio regional president Mr Nicola Zingaretti and Italian State Railways (FS) CEO Mr Michele Mario Elia offically launched a dedicated fleet of eight Alstom Jazz EMUs on the service between Rome Termini and Fiumicino Airport.

Current prospects for the global rail track system market are mixed according to the latest study by German consultancy SCI Verkehr. CEO Maria Leenen and senior consultant Karl Strang profile the results.

FRECCIAROSSA ETR 500 high-speed trains are now running from Milan to Bari in southeastern Italy for the first time following the replacement of a Frecciabianca train on a daily round trip.

PLANS for the electrification of the 60km Merano - Malles Venosta Valley line in northern Italy were presented to local mayors on September 17 by South Tyrol provincial councillor for mobility Mr Florian Mussner and the president of South Tyrol Transport Authority (STA) Mr Martin Ausserdorfer.

TRENITALIA has issued a tender for framework contracts to supply up to 500 regional multiple units in what looks set to be one of Italy's largest orders for new rolling stock in 30 years.

Italian State Railways is on course to become the first European integrated national railway to sell a minority stake to private shareholders. FS Group CEO, Mr Michele Mario Elia, took time during the UIC's high-speed rail congress in Tokyo to talk to David Briginshaw about his plans for FS.

NAPLES Mobility Company (ANM) has issued a tender for a contract worth around €100m to supply 10 new trains for Naples metro Line 1.