Trenitalia orders first regional trains designed for high-speed lines
Trenitalia and Alstom unveiled a 200 km/h variant of the Coradia Stream regional train on 30 September 2025, marking the first time a standard regional train has been designed specifically to operate on high-speed infrastructure.
The operator has ordered 12 units for EUR 172.8 million to run on the Florence-Rome Direttissima line, with delivery expected from 2026.
The eight-car trains will carry 1,076 passengers and feature 16 bicycle racks, automatic boarding ramps and barrier-free access. Umbria Region is contributing EUR 55.6 million to the order, with Trenitalia providing EUR 117.2 million. The trains form part of a framework agreement signed in 2021 covering up to 150 Coradia Stream units.
Standard Coradia Stream regional trains operate at 160 km/h. The new variant’s 200 km/h capability allows it to use the Direttissima high-speed line, which opened as Europe’s first high-speed railway between 1977 and 1992. The line’s 3 kV DC electrification system matches regional rail standards, unlike newer 25 kV AC high-speed lines.
European trend towards faster regional trains
Trenitalia joins Dutch and Norwegian operators in deploying 200 km/h regional trains. NS operates 99 Coradia Stream ICNG units at 200 km/h on the Amsterdam-Rotterdam route since April 2023, while Norske tog has ordered 19 of 55 Coradia Nordic trains with 200 km/h capability for Oslo-area services from mid-2026.
The trains will operate regional services in Umbria, Tuscany and Lazio. Alstom is producing the fleet at its Italian facilities in Savigliano, Sesto San Giovanni and Bologna, with 96% of materials recyclable and energy consumption up to 35% lower than older rolling stock.
The big picture: The order reflects growing pressure to maximise capacity on high-speed infrastructure by running regional services alongside dedicated high-speed trains. The Direttissima’s 3 kV DC electrification makes it uniquely compatible with standard regional fleet specifications.
What’s next: Delivery will begin in 2026 under the existing framework agreement. Trenitalia has not indicated whether it will order additional 200 km/h units from the remaining framework allocation, which could total over 130 trains.