Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and Samantha Cristoforetti for technological innovations

Rome, 8 October 2015

What unites outer space with trains? 

First of all, technological innovation, which is part of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane mission, which is capable of developing advanced systems such as the ERTMS, that permits the automatic control of trains travelling at high speeds, thereby breaking through the barrier of the 3-hour trip between Rome and Milan using a supertechnological train like the Frecciarossa 1000.

Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane is the most important reality in the Italian railway sector and one of the largest companies in the Nation: in the annual ranking of Italian firms organized by Mediobanca, the FS has the seventh highest number of employees, numbering about 70,000, and comes in tenth place with a profit of €838 million in 2013, and took thirteenth place in terms of turnover with €7.59 billion in revenue.

The holding company controls several companies, with specific core businesses, which for safety and technological standards are at the top Europe-wide. 

In recent years, the FS (State Railways) has initiated a major policy of internationalization, through acquisitions and partnerships, and has expanded the boundaries of its business portfolio of transport, focusing on Germany, France and North-East Europe.

Trenitalia is currently utilizing up to 9,000 trains. It annually transports 600 million passengers and 50 million tons of goods.

In recent years, the FS developed a strong international presence through acquisitions and strategic partnerships, as well as trade agreements with other operators.

The Italian Railways Network is the infrastructure manager, in addition to the 16,700 km of railway lines and about 1,000 of these high-speed includes stations and plants which guarantee efficiency, maintenance and safety. 

Italferr is the engineering company for the Group, as well as in Italy, it is very active throughout Europe and the world.