Italian operator Italo has signed a contract with Siemens Mobility for 26 high-speed trains. The 3.6 billion euro investment aims to create competition to Deutsche Bahn starting in 2028.
Italo, 49 percent owned by Swiss shipping group MSC, announced the order on Monday. The contract includes the purchase of Siemens Velaro Multi System trains as well as a 30-year maintenance agreement. The vehicles will be built in Krefeld and maintained in Dortmund.
CEO Gianbattista La Rocca said the company wants to offer passengers greater choice, more frequent connections, fair prices and high-quality service. The trains are planned for the Munich-Cologne-Dortmund and Munich-Berlin-Hamburg routes, connecting 18 cities with 50 daily services.
Deutsche Bahn currently holds about 95 percent of long-distance traffic. Unions and passenger associations raised concerns that added competition could further strain the overloaded rail network.
