Grandes lignes • Nouveaux entrants grande ligne • Grande vitesse • Italie • NTV-Italo

Note: For educational purpose only. This page is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. It is not a substitute for the official page of the operating company, manufacturer or official institutions. It cannot be used for staff training, which is the responsibility of approved institutions and companies.

NTV, Europe’s first private high‑speed operator, sought from 2006 onwards to differentiate itself from Trenitalia by launching an entirely new train, a genuine “technological manifesto”. The aim was to project a premium image, avoid any imitation of the Frecciarossa, and acquire rolling stock designed to its own specifications. The discovery in 2007 of Alstom’s AGV prototype proved decisive: articulated architecture, distributed traction, and technology more advanced than conventional TGVs. Alstom also offered a product already developed yet customisable, backed by thirty years of experience.

For a new entrant, contractual guarantees were essential: 30‑year maintenance, assured fleet availability, and compliance with European standards. This choice aligned with NTV’s industrial strategy: offering “accessible premium” services, maximising capacity (460 seats in 200 m), and building a strong brand identity distinct from Trenitalia.

Faced with difficult commercial prospects in 2014–2015, management chose to expand the network rather than scale back operations. After restructuring its debt, NTV‑Italo invested in trainsets from Alstom’s Pendolino family, similar to the ETR 600 series already in service. The aim was to reach other parts of Italy, such as Bolzano, where high‑speed lines are absent and high‑speed trainsets were unnecessary.

The real surprise came in 2025, when NTV‑Italo, until then focused solely on Italy, announced its intention to operate a train service in Germany, in direct competition with Deutsche Bahn. To avoid lengthy approval procedures, the decision was taken in 2026 to opt for Siemens ICE 3 Neo trainsets from the Velaro platform, with an initial order for 26 units.

Taken together, these developments mean that NTV‑Italo would operate three types of trains in service (or soon to enter service):

Emu

AGV ETR 575
Alstom
2010 – …

NTV-Italo’s ETR 575 is a high-speed train in the AGV family. It was Alstom’s first articulated high-speed train with distributed motorization, capable of speeds of up to 300km/h. NTV-Italo has purchased 25 units. This train set was never sold in France.

➤ More

EVO ETR 675
Alstom
2018 – …

Facing challenging business prospects in 2014-2015, management chose to expand rather than downsize, investing in new trains to grow the fleet from 25 to 47 units in 2020. The new ETR 675 Pendolino trainsets, designed for conventional lines like Bolzano, are not high-speed, reducing costs.
➤ More

ICE 3 neo BR xxx
Siemens
2028 ? – …

In April 2026, NTV-Italo provided further details on its plan to operate a high-speed rail service in Germany. The company plans to order 26 Velaro-type trains (ICE3 Neo) from Siemens, pending the allocation of train paths later this year. This decision would help avoid lengthy certification delays.

🟧

[TOP]
Grandes lignes • Italie • Grande vitesse • Nouveaux entrants grande ligne • Lexique