Rome, 21 October 2025
A new milestone for Italian railway diagnostics: the first Type 4 switcher locomotive - symbol of Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (FS Group) innovation technology, and part of the national diagnostic fleet renewal plan - was delivered in Florence.
Following the delivery of Diamante 2.0, operational on High-speed lines since June 2024, the new generation of diagnostic rolling stock is now being rolled out. Indeed, the Type 4 will be the first of 15 bi-modal switcher locomotives destined for Italian facilities, and capable of running also on complementary lines, at railway junctions and yards.
Renewal of the entire fleet will continue until 2029, with a total of 30 new diagnostic trains, between HS lines and the conventional network.
A technology in motion
At first glance, the Type 4 looks like an ordinary yellow RFI train. However, its exterior hides a sophisticated digital architecture core. This bimodal self-propelled vehicle, with dual traction - diesel and 3kV electric - can reach a speed of 140 km/h during diagnostic missions.
On-board sensors and multi-sector systems constantly monitor track geometry and wear, contact line, running dynamics and wheel-rail and pantograph-contact line interaction. Cameras perform high-definition video inspections on the track and contact line, while other instruments measure the quality of telecommunication signals and the efficiency of signalling systems.
From diagnostics to prediction
Every data collected is a tiny part in the greater mosaic. By integrating measurements, repeated inspections over time and the faults history, we can build predictive models of degradation, paving the way for increasingly predictive maintenance.
This means being able to intervene before an anomaly becomes a fault, thus improving business planning and the railway system’s overall reliability.
A strategic value for the country
Investing in the new diagnostic fleet is not just a technological step, it is a strategic choice.
Turning maintenance into a smarter and preventive practice enhances safety, punctuality and sustainability.
Type 4 is the first piece of the knowledge network that will travel silently along the Italian tracks to ensure a more efficient, modern and reliable infrastructure.