FS acquires Titagarh Firema rolling stock unit
ITALY: Italy’s state railway group FS has completed the acquisition of the Titagarh Firema rolling stock business, bringing train manufacturing capacity under the control of the national railway.
The FS Group says the takeover of Firema has been finalised, bringing the Italian rolling stock manufacturer into the state railway group.
Firema produces regional trains, metro vehicles and light rail rolling stock at facilities including Caserta in southern Italy.
Italian rolling stock manufacturer joins FS Group
Firema has long been one of Italy’s domestic rolling stock manufacturers, supplying regional railways, metro systems and tram networks.
The company had been part of India’s Titagarh Wagons Group, which acquired the Italian manufacturer in 2015.
Move brings train manufacturing closer to rail operations
By bringing Firema into the group, FS moves train operations closer to domestic manufacturing capacity.
The railway group says the move is intended to strengthen its domestic manufacturing base as Italy prepares major investment programmes in new trains for regional and urban networks.
Bringing manufacturing under the FS umbrella could also help match production with the group’s future train orders.