"Ferrari Train" debuts in Italy

[marmar]

from Der Spiegel:





Italy's burgundy red Ferrari on rails is finally going into service. Starting on April 28, the "Italo" will travel at speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour between Milan, Rome and Naples. The new high-speed train is more environmentally friendly and also cheaper than its competitors -- on both the rails and roads.

The burgundy red Italo train departs Naples Central Station punctually at 2 p.m., with rain pouring down from the sky. Within a few minutes, it is trundling past backyards at 160 kilometers per hour, then gathers speed. By 2:14 p.m., the train is whizzing along at 200 km/h and reaches 260 just a few minutes later.

The ride is quiet and smooth, and the only indication of the high speeds at which we are traveling are the large LED signs in the cars. By 2:16 p.m., we're up to 300 km/h (186 miles per hour). The train has no locomotive and the motors are equally distributed throughout each car, making for a quieter ride. The train is also capable of traveling at speeds of 360 km/h -- the only problem is that Italian tracks aren't built to support such high speeds.

The rain has now stopped, leaving the wet streets full of puddles. Clouds of water spray can still be seen behind cars on a motorway that runs parallel to the train tracks for a stretch. But the cars only remain in sight for a few seconds -- we're too fast for them. .....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,829474,00.html

[Fumesucker]

1. Cool, but do they run on time, eh?

[hifiguy]

2. High-speed rail is the most civilized mode of transport

devised by human beings. I adored the TGV when I was in France years ago.

[kayakjohnny]

3. I guess seatbelts would be a mere formality at that speed.

[northoftheborder]

4. Wish we had a few of those.

[Odin2005]

5. The rest of the world is leaving us behind.

[derby378]

6. "No mobile use?!?"

Screw that. When the US finally goes high-speed rail, I want our trains built like tanks. Angry Birds at 150 mph - I could get behind that.

[marmar]

7. No mobile use in that particular car. It's called a quiet car.....

The whole train isn't mobile-free.

[derby378]

8. Thanks

I suppose if I had taken another look at that picture, I might have noticed a clue. My wife told me I had a tendency to overlook detail.