The Italo is Italy’s response to France’s TGV and Germany’s ICE. The nation’s first privatized high-speed train is designed by Ferrari.
The dark Ferrari-red casing and stylish, comfortable interiors that seats 450 passagers outshines the TGV and speeds from Rome to Naples in an hour or to Milan in three.
The Italo line owned by Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV), which is led by a group of Italian businessmen including Luca di Montezemolo (the head of Ferrari) and Diego Della Valle, the head of luxury shoemaker Tod’s. Plus France’s national rail company SNCF owns a 20-percent stake in NTV.
According to the AFP, the Italo offers three different coach classes and travel at a top speed of 360 km (224 m) per hour. Although Italian infrastructure currently limits the trains to 300km/hr.
“All our employees speak English as well as Italian, and each station we transit through will have an ‘Italo House’ for passengers wanting information or a rest,” Giuseppe Bonollo, NTV commercial director.
As for the price, there will be comparable rates to the national train service if booked in advanced and off-peak. And, eight routes throughout Italy begin on April 28 including Salerno, Naples, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Turin, Padua and Venice.
Passengers will also be able to dine on special meals prepared by the slow-food gourmet market Eataly.
via AFP, Reuters