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The ETR 500

The ETR 500 is Italy's fastest train, ensuring the service "Eurostar Italia" of the Italian National Railway FS since the year 1996.
Nowadays, the fleet contains 60 trains, one unit consists of two powercars and up to 14 carriages. The famous designer Sergio Pininfarina has created the elegant appearance of the 300 km/h fast trains.

The first 30 units are only equipped for the 3 kV direct current (italian: monotensione, "one-system") of Italy's rail infrastructure, the following trains are also able to run with 25 kV alternating current, that is how the future high-speed lines will be electrified. For this reason one ETR 500 politensione (='multisystem') was doing test runs on the french LGV network, which is also electrified with 25 kV/50 Hz.

The driver's cab of an ETR 500

On this display one can see the status of the two powercars...

... and here their wiring diagram

The logo of the ETR and, at the bottom and to the very left, the one of the designer Pininfarina

An ETR 500 monotensione...

... in Venezia (Venice) St. Lucia

Two ETR monotensione, the one in the background is leaving Venice

ETR 500 politensione...

... in Venice, ready for departure soon

And here one is already heading towards Rome, running through the twilight of the early dusk

It is busy in Venice, here with two ETR 500 politensione

Arrival of an ETR politensione, the last meters over the bridge connecting Venice with the rest of Italy

An ETR 500 monotensione...

ETR 500 poli- and monotensione (right) next to each other in Milano

The driver's cab of an ETR 500	Photo by Patti
On this display one can see the status of the two powercars...	Photo by Patti
... and here their wiring diagram	Photo by Patti
View out of the cab	Photo by M. Mervine
The logo of the ETR and, at the bottom and to the very left, the one of the designer Pininfarina	Photo by Patti
An ETR 500 monotensione...	Photo by Patti
... in Venezia (Venice) St. Lucia	Photo by Patti
Two ETR monotensione, the one in the background is leaving Venice	Photo by Patti
ETR 500 politensione...	Photo by Patti
... in Venice, ready for departure soon	Photo by Patti
And here one is already heading towards Rome, running through the twilight of the early dusk	Photo by Patti
It is busy in Venice, here with two ETR 500 politensione	Photo by Patti
Arrival of an ETR politensione, the last meters over the bridge connecting Venice with the rest of Italy	Photo by Patti
An ETR 500 monotensione...	Photo by M. Mervine
...in Milano	Photo by M. Mervine
ETR 500 poli- and monotensione (right) next to each other in Milano	Photo by M. Mervine