This shiny new set of Italian wheels is red, super-fast and luxurious. No wonder some have come to calling Italo the Ferrari of high-speed trains. Indeed, it has been launched by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the longtime chairman of Ferrari, who now doubles as president of Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV), Europe’s first privately operated high-speed train line.
Italo is due to be in service in March 2012 and will travel at a top speed of 360 kilometers-per-hour (224 m.p.h). It could turn out to be a serious competitor for Trenitalia, Italy’s state-owned train operator. “There was a lot of resistance, and various problems, but we believe in this project,” says Montezemolo. “We see this as the start of a period where citizens will have choice, competition, and the will to succeed.”
“Finally we will travel well by train,” said another shareholder of NTV, Diego Della Valle, owner of the luxury goods company Tod’s.
In the most luxurious “Club” class, which has only 19 seats, there will be two private lounges, individual television screens, and meals served by the up-market Italian food company Eataly. Just behind is “First” class, where the seats are large and arranged three across. Personalized menus are available. In a “Relax” carriage, cell phones are banned. The second class has been renamed “Smart” class, for travellers who prefer to spend a bit less. They will have access to a small cinema.
Its founders also point to the new train line’s environmental cred: including relatively low carbon emissions and noise levels, and use of recyclable materials. Ticket prices have not been announced, and will depend on the time and day of the week.
“Italy is the first country in Europe with a totally private operator of high speed train,” Montezemolo declared. “Everyone says that it’s time to believe in Italy. We are showing that we believe in the country in a very concrete way.”
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Photo – NTV
*Newsbites are digest items, not direct translations
