At the presentation of the 2011-2015 industrial plan, the CEO of Ferrovie dello Stato, Mauro Moretti, showed the numbers of a healthy company. Over the next four years, the turnover of the public group will rise to 10 billion, while investments of 27 billion will be launched to be spread over five years. Of these, 6 will be used for the purchase of new trains, such as the Etr 1000 which will replace the current Frecciarossa and will 'fly' on the tracks at 360 km/h. 17 billion will be spent to upgrade the traditional network, while 3,5 for high speed/capacity. Finally, the subsidiary Trenitalia will be recapitalised for 900 million to meet the new investment effort.
By 2015, the works for the new HS stations will be completed: Roma Tiburtina (which will open at the end of the year), Torino Porta Susa, Naples Afragola, Firenze Belfiore, Reggio Emilia HS and the new Bologna Centrale. Thanks to the city bypasses under construction and the new trains, it will be possible to travel from Rome to Milan in 2 hours and 20 minutes, explained Moretti.
“As a post-war politician said, it is a sign of madness to restore the Fs, but something has changed. The railways are no longer a liability” commented the Finance Minister, Giulio Tremonti, in a letter addressed to Moretti “sooner or later someone will come to your meeting to detach a rich dividend coupon”.
