Hitachi Rail Italy
Italian rolling-stock manufacturer formerly known as AnsaldoBreda and acquired by Hitachi Rail in 2015.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Hitachi Rail Italy was an Italian rolling-stock manufacturer operating as the successor to AnsaldoBreda. Its industrial ancestry reached back to two major Italian engineering traditions: Gio. Ansaldo & C., established in Genoa in 1853 and involved in locomotives and railway equipment, and Società Italiana Ernesto Breda, founded in Milan in 1886. Both companies became important suppliers during Italy’s industrialisation and later developed broad industrial and defence interests. Their railway activities were eventually consolidated as part of a state-led restructuring of the Italian engineering sector. AnsaldoBreda was created in 2001 by combining the rolling-stock operations of Ansaldo and Breda. It became part of Finmeccanica, the Italian state-controlled industrial group, and won contracts for trains, trams, metro vehicles and railway systems in Italy and overseas. The company participated in significant national programmes, including the ETR 500 high-speed train and the Frecciarossa 1000, developed with Bombardier Transportation. It also supplied the IC4 diesel multiple-unit fleet for Denmark, V250 trains for the Netherlands–Belgium Fyra service, metro vehicles, light-rail vehicles and trams for cities in Europe and North America. The business nevertheless experienced serious operational and financial difficulties. Several international projects were affected by late deliveries, reliability problems, maintenance burdens, corrosion or disputes with customers. These issues damaged AnsaldoBreda’s reputation and contributed to Finmeccanica’s decision to sell the company as part of a broader restructuring. In 2015 Hitachi agreed to acquire AnsaldoBreda and Finmeccanica’s stake in Ansaldo STS. The transaction was completed in November 2015, after which AnsaldoBreda adopted the name Hitachi Rail Italy. Under Hitachi ownership, the Italian operation remained an important production and engineering base within Hitachi Rail. The Pistoia facility was involved in rolling-stock production, including some British Rail Class 802 trainsets after capacity constraints at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe plant. The business also retained connections to major Italian products such as the Frecciarossa 1000 and developed or manufactured metro, regional, intercity and high-speed vehicles. Hitachi Rail Italy did not continue as a separate corporate entity indefinitely. On 1 April 2021 it was merged into Hitachi Rail STS, another major Hitachi Rail company. The merger ended the independent corporate existence associated with the Hitachi Rail Italy name, while the Italian manufacturing and engineering capabilities continued within the wider Hitachi Rail organisation.
History
The industrial lineage later associated with Hitachi Rail Italy began with Ansaldo and Breda. Gio. Ansaldo & C. was registered in Genoa in 1853 with support from Camillo Benso, Count of Cavour, and produced steam locomotives, railway rolling stock and engines. Its early railway work included the FS113 locomotive, known as Sampierdarena. During the First World War Ansaldo became a major arms supplier. Post-war conversion difficulties contributed to nationalisation in 1921, after which the group diversified into power generation, nuclear activities and other engineering fields. Its railway operations were later brought together under Ansaldo Trasporti. Ernesto Breda founded Società Italiana Ernesto Breda in Milan in 1886. Breda built its thousandth locomotive by 1908 and entered electric-train production with the FS ETR 200 series in the 1930s. One of these trains reached 203 km/h in 1939, establishing an important Italian rail-speed record. Breda also supplied weapons and aircraft during the Fascist period and was nationalised after the Second World War in 1947. During Italy’s post-war economic expansion, it produced commuter trains, locomotives and the ETR 300, while also expanding into buses and defence. In the 1980s Breda joined the consortium responsible for the first Italian high-speed train programme, the ETR 500. In 2001 the Italian state consolidated the rolling-stock activities of Ansaldo and Breda into AnsaldoBreda. The new company became part of Finmeccanica and pursued contracts in Europe, North America and elsewhere. It supplied a broad portfolio, including regional trains, metro vehicles, trams and locomotives. Its involvement in the ETR 500 programme continued, and the company later worked with Bombardier Transportation on the Frecciarossa 1000, which entered service in 2015. AnsaldoBreda’s international expansion was accompanied by repeated delivery and reliability difficulties. The Danish IC4 programme suffered major delays and technical problems. V250 trains for the Dutch-Belgian Fyra service arrived years later than contracted and encountered severe reliability problems soon after entering passenger service. Tram projects in Gothenburg and Oslo generated complaints concerning corrosion, maintenance, ride quality, noise or infrastructure effects. In the United States, some light-rail and metro fleets were described by operators or local reporting as difficult to maintain; Washington’s 4000-series vehicles were ultimately retired after safety and operational concerns. These episodes contributed to the company’s poor reputation and made restructuring difficult. Finmeccanica announced the sale of AnsaldoBreda to Hitachi in 2015, alongside the sale of its stake in Ansaldo STS. The transaction was completed in November of that year, and the company was renamed Hitachi Rail Italy. Hitachi retained the Italian production base and integrated it into its global rail business. The Pistoia plant subsequently contributed to production of some Class 802 trains for the United Kingdom, among other rolling-stock activities. The corporate structure changed again on 1 April 2021, when Hitachi Rail Italy was merged into Hitachi Rail STS. The merger ended Hitachi Rail Italy as a distinct legal and corporate entity, although its Italian factories, expertise and product programmes continued within Hitachi Rail.
- 2021
Merged into Hitachi Rail STS
[1]Hitachi Rail Italy was merged into Hitachi Rail STS on 1 April, ending its separate corporate existence.
- 2016
Frecciarossa 1000 test-speed report
[1]A Frecciarossa 1000 reportedly attained 393.8 km/h during testing on the Turin–Milan high-speed line.
- 2015
Frecciarossa 1000 entered service
[1]The new high-speed train developed with Bombardier Transportation entered Italian passenger service.
- 2015
Acquisition by Hitachi completed
[1]Hitachi completed its purchase of AnsaldoBreda and renamed the business Hitachi Rail Italy.
- 2009
ETR 500 tunnel speed record
[1]An ETR 500 reportedly reached 362 km/h in the Monte Bibele tunnel on the Florence–Bologna high-speed route.
- 2001
AnsaldoBreda created
[1]The Italian state consolidated the rolling-stock operations of Ansaldo and Breda into AnsaldoBreda within Finmeccanica.
- 1939
ETR 200 speed record
[1]A Breda-built ETR 200 train reached 203 km/h, demonstrating the company's early expertise in high-speed electric rail vehicles.
- 1886
Breda established
[1]Ernesto Breda founded Società Italiana Ernesto Breda in Milan, creating the second major industrial lineage later brought into AnsaldoBreda.
- 1853
Ansaldo established
[1]Gio. Ansaldo & C. was registered in Genoa and entered the developing Italian locomotive and engineering industry.
Products and positioning
Italian rolling-stock manufacturing and engineering within the Hitachi Rail group
High-speed train · 2015
Frecciarossa 1000
A new-generation Italian high-speed train developed by AnsaldoBreda in partnership with Bombardier Transportation. It entered service with Trenitalia in 2015 and formed one of the most visible successes of the company's later period.
High-speed train · 1993
ETR 500
An Italian high-speed train family developed through a consortium that included Breda and Ansaldo-related railway businesses. The trains entered service in the 1990s and were progressively upgraded for operation on Italy's high-speed network.
Diesel multiple unit
IC4
A diesel multiple-unit family supplied to Danish State Railways. The programme became associated with substantial delivery delays and technical problems, and DSB later planned the fleet's withdrawal.
High-speed train
V250
A high-speed train developed for the Fyra service between the Netherlands and Belgium. Deliveries were significantly late, and severe reliability problems led the Belgian partner to withdraw from the project.
Tram and light rail
Sirio
A modular low-floor tram family supplied to several European, Asian and Turkish cities, including Gothenburg, Athens, Florence, Naples, Bergamo, Kayseri and Zhuhai. Individual fleets varied by gauge, configuration and local operating requirements.
Metro train
Hitachi Rail Italy Driverless Metro
A family of automated metro vehicles associated with driverless metro systems in Italy and Denmark. Examples included vehicles for the Milan and Brescia networks and the Copenhagen Metro.
Light-rail vehicle
AnsaldoBreda Type 8
A low-floor light-rail vehicle supplied to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for Boston's Green Line. The fleet became known for maintenance difficulties and contributed to delays in retiring older vehicles.
Intercity multiple unit
Class 802
A British intercity train family produced partly at Hitachi Rail Italy's Pistoia facility after production was shifted from the Newton Aycliffe plant because of capacity constraints.
Controversies
2017
Washington Metro 4000-series retirement
The Washington Metro 4000-series vehicles were retired after concerns that included an incorrect speed-limit display in manual mode, following earlier door-related incidents involving the fleet.
2016
IC4 delivery and reliability problems
The Danish IC4 programme missed its original delivery schedule by several years and experienced continuing technical problems. DSB announced a future withdrawal of the trains.
2013
Fyra V250 reliability controversy
The V250 trains supplied for the Dutch-Belgian Fyra service were delivered years late and suffered severe technical and reliability problems after entering service. NMBS/SNCB withdrew from the project and cancelled its contract.
2000
Sirio tram performance concerns in Gothenburg
Gothenburg reported late delivery and operational problems with Sirio trams, including corrosion, excessive track damage, air-conditioning malfunctions and poor ride quality.
2000
Stockholm signalling contract dispute
A delayed metro signalling project for Stockholm's red line was cancelled after years of work. The dispute over advance payments proceeded to arbitration.
Brand decisions
2021
Corporate merger into Hitachi Rail STSM&ABackground
Hitachi reorganized its rail businesses after operating the Italian rolling-stock company under the Hitachi Rail Italy name.
Action taken
Hitachi Rail Italy was merged into Hitachi Rail STS on 1 April 2021.
Aftermath
The separate Hitachi Rail Italy corporate entity ceased to exist, although its Italian industrial operations continued within Hitachi Rail.
2015
Hitachi acquired AnsaldoBredaM&ABackground
Finmeccanica was restructuring its troubled rolling-stock business and lacked the resources for a complete internal recovery.
Action taken
Hitachi acquired AnsaldoBreda and also purchased Finmeccanica's stake in Ansaldo STS. The AnsaldoBreda business was renamed Hitachi Rail Italy.
Aftermath
The Italian manufacturing base became part of Hitachi Rail's international organization, while some residual contracts remained the responsibility of Finmeccanica.
Reported transaction consideration. $2.2 billion for the overall transaction; approximately €30 million for AnsaldoBreda as a going concern (2015)
2015
Frecciarossa 1000 entered passenger serviceProduct launchBackground
Italy sought a new generation of high-speed trains for its expanding high-speed railway network.
Action taken
AnsaldoBreda and Bombardier Transportation developed the Frecciarossa 1000, which entered service with Trenitalia.
Aftermath
The train became a prominent example of the company's technical capability during the transition from AnsaldoBreda to Hitachi Rail Italy.
Sources1 sources
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