FS Class ETR 450



ETR 450 (ElettroTrenoRapido 450) was the first series Italian tilting train (also called Pendolino).

History
The Pendolino project was started in the 1970s by FIAT Ferroviaria. Development included a number of prototypes, the last of which was the ETR 401. This prototype was followed by the ETR 450 series units. The first train entered service on between Rome and Milan in 1988.

Every train is made up of 9 units. The trains can reach a maximum speed of 280 km/h, service top speed was 250 km/h. The ETR 450 were in use on the Rome-Bari, Rome-Ancona-Rimini and Genoa-Florence - Rome lines. It was relegated to lower services with the introduction of the next generation of Pendolino trains (ETR 460, ETR 480) and non-tilting high-speed trains (ETR 500).

In 2004, the tilting mechanism was deactivated, due to the end of production of gyroscopic tilting controls (built by British Aerospace) and as a precaution, and top speed was reduced to 200 km/h.

From 2015, all trains are out of service.

Characteristics

 * Construction years: 1987 - 1992
 * Max. speed (in service): 250 km/h
 * Max. tilting angle: 8°
 * Total number of seats: 390 (220 II + 170 I)