(Finance) – Signed on contract for the supply of 70 new Trenitalia Intercity Notte carriages financed under the funds of the PNRR for a value of approximately 140 million euros. The contract is part of a broader agreement which provides for the purchase of up to 370 new carriages for a value of approximately 730 million euros.
The 70 carriages, intended for services Intercity Night to and from Sicilywill be put into service by 30 June 2026. They will offer full accessibility to people with reduced mobility, with dedicated toilets and seats; they will allow, thanks also to high soundproofing, to sleep in maximum comfort and relaxation in sleeping cabins and couchettes, or traveling in cars with the latest generation of seats; finally, a live video surveillance system will ensure passengers ever greater peace of mind and safety.
There are three types of the 70 night carriages: 44 will be “berths”; 22 “bed” and 4 seat carriages. The “Bunks” will be equipped with an air conditioning system that allows thermoregulation per room, and will have 7 cabins with 4 beds each. The “bed” carriages have comfortable bedrooms, 2 with double beds and 6 with two single beds, equipped with private toilet and shower. Each carriage has an air conditioning system that allows thermoregulation by room and an electronic access control.
Seating carriages have a large passenger lounge with seats arranged in 2+1, so as to maximize interior comfort with seat modules equipped with lights in place, armrests and oversized headrests. The large central corridor allows for easy use of the internal space during the journey, while luggage racks and luggage storage spaces are provided in the vestibule area. The vestibule areas host a toilet on each side and it will also be possible to bring your own bike on board, to be placed in the appropriate spaces.
L’investment has the purpose of renewing obsolete rolling stock, also with a view to environmental protection. Overall, within the PNRR funds, resources amounting to 200 million euros have been identified to be allocated to the improvement of Intercity connections to southern Italy. With these funds, in addition to the purchase of 70 carriages to be used for Intercity night services to and from Sicily, the purchase of 7 hybrid trains with triple power supply (electric, diesel and battery) is also expected to be used for Intercity Reggio Calabria connections – Taranto (two pairs of trains) for an estimated value of around 60 million.