Cagliari, 10 July 2026
Test runs of the new ATR 465 train, manufactured by CAF and purchased by the Sardinia Region, took place during the night between July 9 and 10, along the Cagliari–Olbia route and back.
The test was possible because of the collaborative work between FS Group Companies - Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), Trenitalia and Italcertifer – the Sardinia Region, CAF. It assessed the train’s safety, reliability and technical performance along the entire route, completed in 2 hours and 15 minutes, without any intermediate stops and in the absence of other rail traffic, at a maximum speed of 150 km/h. The actual journey times for the service will not be the same as those recorded during this trial phase, and they will be determined by the timetable.
The Sardinia Region and RFI are working together, among other projects, on tilting train circulation, to update Sardinia’s railway infrastructure. Thanks to these improvements, trains can travel on bends at speed up to 20% higher than traditional trains, while maintaining high levels of comfort and safety, and reducing journey times.
Works on the Sardinian rail network were funded by the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, as part of the Framework Agreement with RFI, and involved infrastructure investments for over 50 million euros. As part of the project, RFI was in charge of upgrading and certifying the line before the new trains could travel on it, with Trenitalia and Italcertifer’s help for the train and tiling system’s type-approval.
As Testing Authority, Testing Organisation and Conformity Assessment Body, Italcertifer coordinated and supervised the entire testing programme. The FS Group Company followed the Line Testing Authorisation (APL) process with ANSFISA, by supervising the activities and compliance of the tests with regulatory requirements. As part of the train’s commissioning process, Italcertifer was also in charge of the vehicle certification process, in accordance with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSIs) and national legislation.
Trenitalia housed the train in its workshops during the project, which began in September 2025, and provided the train on-board staff involved in the tests.
Another crucial aspect of the project was the coordination provided by the Region and the support of ANSFISA, the Prefectures, the Municipalities, ANAS, the Provinces, the police and all the institutions involved.
Trial runs are an essential technical stage in a vehicle’s commissioning process. Through them, the train’s performance was assessed, confirming its suitability for operation on the Sardinian rail network, in accordance with the highest safety and reliability standards. After this stage of the authorisation process is completed – which will end in a further round of trials scheduled for September – the process will then continue in the coming months, with other activities falling within ANSFISA’s remit. The results of the trial run lay the foundations for defining the future commercial service on the Sardinian network, and for reducing journey times, in line with the strategic decisions and guidelines that the Region is set on adopting.
The successful outcome of this testing phase is another step forward in the process that will gradually bring the Sardinian railway system in line with national standards. FS Group, in collaboration with the Sardinia Region, will continue to develop the railway infrastructure and services to provide an increasingly fast, efficient and competitive service, and meet the passengers’ travel needs effectively.