FNM SpA (the second-largest railway company in Italy) and Hitachi Rail Italy SpA have signed an eight-year framework agreement for the supply of double-deck high-capacity trains to be used on ‘high-frequency’ rail lines.

The minimum guaranteed supply quantity is 50 trains: 30 in short configuration (four carriages) and 20 in long configuration (five carriages); the maximum quantity is 120 trains.

The price per train is 7,917,000 euros in short configuration and 9,317,000 euros in long configuration. The framework agreement also includes the option of Hitachi supplying train maintenance services for a period of three years.

In addition, Ferrovienord — a company 100% controlled by FNM (www.fnmgroup.it) — signed a contract with Hitachi Rail Italy for the supply of 30 trains in short configuration for a total 237,510,000 euros. The delivery of the first trains will commence in 2020.

The trains Hitachi (www.italy.hitachirail.com) will be supplying will be designed to be environment-friendly, guaranteeing 30% less energy consumption than previous-generation equivalents, lower noise, power recovery during braking, the use of innovative materials allowing weight reduction, and high levels of re-usability (96%) and bio-degradability (95%).