EXPO Ferroviaria Day 2: Risk, AI, Maintenance, and Stadler's Battery Train in the Spotlight

Before the stands fill and the coffee cools, Milan’s second day switches from big promises to the nuts-and-bolts of delivery: contracts, risk, and operational discipline.

The day opened with Risk Management and Contractual Aspects in Underground Works, hosted by SIG. Organisers compared Italian and international rules and centred the agenda on the FIDIC–ITA Emerald Book, split into two lectures by M. Neuenschwander and H. Ertl, before a late-afternoon roundtable with owners and operators (BBT-SE, Saipem, ANAS, TELT, RFI, INCAS).

Then, Alstom Talks returned with a rapid rotation: Coradia Stream for STA and for Trenitalia, predictive maintenance via the Control Room, the Smart Derailment Detector, CRM depot electrification, urban tram projects in Bologna and Brescia, ERTMS deployment, freight featuring the Traxx Universal, plus sessions on new partnership models and Alstom’s impact in Italy.

Two policy-to-practice forums ran in parallel. Risk and Competitiveness in Freight Rail Transport framed regulation as competitive advantage, with a specific lens on dangerous goods. Across the hall (10:30–12:30, Forum 2), The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Transport Infrastructure and Vehicles gathered Politecnico di Milano, ANIE ASSIFER, RFI, Trenitalia, and ANSFISA to map current AI applications—predictive maintenance, operations optimisation, safety, and network efficiency—before a roundtable on integration hurdles.

Stadler Unveils 36-metre Battery Train

One of the day’s technology highlights was the debut of Stadler’s first Italian battery-powered train, developed for Ferrovie Appulo Lucane. The new unit, 36 metres long with battery capacity exceeding 600 kWh, is intended for the Altamura–Matera route and, according to the operator, could save more than 1,300 tonnes of CO₂ annually compared with diesel operation. "This is truly the green future of rail," said Italian Transport Minister Matteo Salvini at the premiere.

The programme also featured a session titled 200 Years of Modern Rail: From Steam to Hydrogen, organised by ASSTRA with regional representatives. The presentations traced the evolution from steam traction to current hydrogen train projects. Safety authorities and public transport agencies framed the discussion, while UNIFE’s head of sustainability examined European rules on PFAS/REACH, the EU taxonomy, and ESPR/ecodesign. Speakers noted that this regulatory framework already shapes manufacturers’ design decisions, helping to define the future of railway technology.

CZ LOKO's Strong Position in Italy

CZ LOKO also hosted a stand at the exhibition, underlining not just its active participation but its strong foothold in the Italian market. The Czech locomotive maker ranks among Italy’s most successful foreign suppliers: more than one hundred CZ LOKO locomotives are already in service in the country, including EffiShunter 1000 units and the legendary Brejlovec. The company said Italy is its strongest foreign market, a status further highlighted by its presence at EXPO Ferroviaria in Milan.

Afternoon: Condition-Based Railways, Digital Twins, and Skills

After lunch, the focus shifted to operations. A session on combined measurement and rolling-stock inspection systems demonstrated how wayside monitoring supported availability, efficiency, and true predictive workflows. Maintenance and Railways ran three panels—Network, Rolling Stock, and Skills—arguing that maintenance had moved from craft to strategy, reshaped by digitalisation, electronics, and a changing skills mix. Speakers spanned infrastructure and operators (RFI, Trenord), suppliers (Wabtec, Knorr-Bremse, Lucchini RS, MA Group), and training bodies.

MERCURIO introduced a multi-platform monitoring stack that fused satellites, distributed sensors, and drones to build a digital twin of the railway, targeting hydrogeological risk, predictive maintenance, and faster, safer interventions. Late afternoon turned to people and knowledge with Transmitting the Railway Culture, new CIFI courses and publications to keep competencies aligned with fast-moving technologies. Closing the day, OverIT made the case for FSM-driven asset lifecycle management, linking infrastructure and depot operations to reduce downtime and sharpen field execution.