Colourful news is emerging from the Italian rail sector, with developments involving STA – Strutture Trasporto Alto Adige – the regional transport authority based in the province of Bolzano.
On 29 April 2025, the first ETR 160 train destined for STA, numbered ETR 160 n.004, was transferred from Alstom’s production facility in Savigliano to Merano, near Bolzano. The transfer was handled by Captrain Italia, with the train hauled by locomotive 494.561 and accompanied by Diesel locomotive D318.011.
Overnight, the D318.011 hauled the brand-new trainset to Malles, where it will be showcased on 4 May during celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the Vinschgau Railway’s reopening.
This train is the first of 21 ETR 160 units currently being built at Alstom’s Savigliano plant, and the single elements are numbered this way:
- 94 83 4160 041-9 I-SAD
- 94 83 4160 042-5 I-SAD
- 94 83 4160 043-0 I-SAD
- 94 83 4160 044-1 I-SAD
- 94 83 4160 045-8 I-SAD
- 94 83 4160 046-8 I-SAD
The fleet will be delivered in stages and is set to change regional transport across the Alpine region. These six-car multi-system trains, each measuring 127.8 meters in length and capable of carrying around 800 passengers, will form key cross-border connections between South Tyrol, North Tyrol, and East Tyrol – including routes such as Malles–Lienz and Innsbruck–Bolzano.
The new fleet is expected to enter service in May 2026, ushering in a new era of sustainable and efficient rail travel across the Tyrolean regions.
About the project
In total STA has 21 multi-system units on order:
- STA ordered the 8 Alstom Coradia Stream EMUs in May 2022 for South Tyrol instead of 7 Bombardier Talent3.
- Later, STA raised the number of trains on order to 15.
- Six more units were announced on 01.06.2023 on behalf of ÖBB and Tyrol.
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