# Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane

> national rail operator of Italy

**Wikidata**: [Q83823](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q83823)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrovie_dello_Stato_Italiane)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ferrovie-dello-stato-italiane

## Summary
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) is the national rail operator of Italy, functioning as a state-owned enterprise. Founded in 1905 and headquartered in Rome, the company manages the nation's primary railway infrastructure, passenger trains, and freight logistics. It operates under the authority of the Italian government via the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1905.
- Headquarters are located in Rome, the capital of Italy.
- Classified as a state-owned enterprise and a business undertaking commercial activities.
- Owned and controlled by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.
- Also known by the aliases "Ferrovie dello Stato" and "FS".
- Official websites include https://www.fsitaliane.it/ and https://fsnews.it/.
- Preceded by the Imperial Royal Austrian State Railways (established in 1884).
- Connected to the International Union of Railways and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies.

## FAQs

**What subsidiaries does Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane own?**
FS owns several key subsidiaries operating in the rail transport industry. Notable domestic entities include Trenitalia (the primary passenger railway company), Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (the infrastructure manager), Mercitalia Logistics (freight transport), and station management companies Grandi Stazioni and Centostazioni. The group also owns international operators such as Hellenic Train in Greece, Qbuzz in the Netherlands, and TX Logistik in Germany.

**What infrastructure and specialized rail lines does FS manage?**
Through its infrastructure manager, Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, FS oversees a vast network of interconnected railways, tunnels, and international lines. This includes high-traffic routes like the Florence–Rome railway, international connections like the Vatican Railway, and significant engineering projects such as the Apennine Base Tunnel. 

**What types of trains and rolling stock are associated with FS?**
The company has a historical and modern roster of rolling stock, including high-speed trainsets like the FS Class ETR 500, ETR 600 ''Frecciargento'', and the historic Settebello service. It also operates various diesel and electric locomotives, such as the FS Class E.652, as well as specialized railcars like the FS class ALn 668.

## Why It Matters
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane is the backbone of Italy's public transport and commercial rail logistics. By operating both the infrastructure (tracks and stations) and the transport services (passenger and freight trains), FS plays a vertically integrated role in the nation's economy. It facilitates the daily conveyance of passengers and goods across the country while also expanding its influence internationally through subsidiaries like Hellenic Train and cross-border logistics firms. The organization's continued investment in high-speed rail has fundamentally modernized intercity travel in Italy.

## Notable For
- Being the primary state-owned rail operator in Italy since its inception in 1905.
- Operating a vast portfolio of subsidiaries covering infrastructure, passenger rail, and freight logistics.
- Expanding its reach beyond Italy to operate transport companies in the Netherlands (Qbuzz), Greece (Hellenic Train), Spain (ILSA), and Germany (TX Logistik).
- Managing high-profile rail lines and infrastructure, including the Vatican Railway and the Apennine Base Tunnel.
- Pioneering high-speed rail planning through the special purpose entity Treno Alta Velocità (founded in 1991).
- Utilizing a historically diverse range of rolling stock, from early 20th-century steam locomotives to modern electric multiple units.

## Body

### Corporate Structure and Ownership
Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane operates as a state-owned enterprise. It is legally controlled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which acts as the highest executive authority on behalf of the Government of Italy. The company functions as a broader business organization encompassing multiple subsidiary brands that specialize in different segments of the rail transport industry. Its historical inception dates back to 1905, succeeding operations previously managed by entities such as the Imperial Royal Austrian State Railways. 

### Passenger and Freight Operations
Passenger rail services are predominantly operated by Trenitalia, an Italian railway company founded on January 1, 2000. For freight and logistics, the group operates Mercitalia Logistics, established in 2017. The FS group also wholly owns Hellenic Train (the operator of Greek railways, founded December 19, 2005), Qbuzz (a Dutch public transport bus company founded in April 2008), and TX Logistik (a German transport company founded in 1999). Additional operations include investments in ILSA, a Spanish open access railway operator founded in April 2015.

### Infrastructure Management
The physical rail network is managed by Rete Ferroviaria Italiana, an Italian railway infrastructure manager created on April 9, 2001. The network includes extensive infrastructure such as the Florence–Rome railway, Genoa–Pisa railway, Turin–Genoa railway, and the international Drava Valley Railway. It also oversees the Vatican Railway. Stations are managed through dedicated companies, including Centostazioni (founded February 8, 2001) and Grandi Stazioni (founded in 1998). The group also controls Ferrovie del Sud Est, a regional rail operator established in 1931.

### High-Speed Rail and Major Projects
FS has driven high-speed rail development through Treno Alta Velocità, a special purpose entity founded on January 1, 1991, to plan and construct a high-speed network in Italy. It is also a participant in EUROFIMA, the European Company for the Financing of Railroad Rolling Stock. High-speed services feature trainsets such as the ETR 401, ETR 600 ''Frecciargento'', ETR.610, FS Class ETR.300, and the historic Settebello service (incepted in 1953).

### Historical Rolling Stock and Locomotives
The history of FS is documented through its extensive roster of rolling stock. 
- **Steam Locomotives:** Historical classes include the FS class 640 (2-6-0), FS 940 (2-8-2T), FS class 680 (2-6-2), and the RA class 500 cab-forward locomotives. The company also utilized inherited classes like the LVCI 1–50 (Austro-Hungarian 2-2-2/2-4-0), kkStB 429, kkStB 160, kkStB 170, kkStB 178, kkStB 180, kkStB 73, Prussian P 8, Prussian P 6, Prussian S 10, Prussian G 8, and the Südbahn Class 23.
- **Electric Locomotives and Multiple Units:** Notable classes include the FS E.432, FS E.550, FS Class E.491, FS Class E.405, FS Class E.652, FS E.326, FS Class 691 (4-6-2), Siemens ES64F4, and the FS Class ETR.200.
- **Diesel Locomotives and Railcars:** The company operated the FS Class D.443, FS D.341, TI E.402B, FS Class ALn 772, FS ALn 880, and the FS class ALn 668 railcar.

### Named Trains and Services
Throughout its history, FS has operated several notable named train services. These include the Vesuvio (an express train from 1937), the Ligure (a Trans Europ Express running to Marseille/Avignon), the Adriatico (a passenger train from 1973), the Cycnus, the Colosseum (a former passenger train in Central Europe), and the Frecciargento.

### Additional Infrastructure and Incidents
Beyond main rail lines, the FS network includes specialized structures like the Apennine Base Tunnel, the Ponte San Paolo in Rome, and regional lines such as the Pisa–Lucca railway, Treviglio–Bergamo railway, and Udine–Cividale railway. The Val Gardena Railway is a former railway in northern Italy under its historical umbrella. The company has also dealt with significant incidents, such as the Viareggio train derailment in 2009.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lobbyfacts.eu/datacard/ferrovie-dello-stato-italiane-spa?rid=1954267427-31)
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. [Source](https://vademecum.uic.org/en/memberDetail/59)
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](https://www.agi.it/archivio/repository/fs_con_nuovo_logo_le_ferrovie_diventano_italiane_-330414/news/2011-06-22/)
6. [2020](https://www.gleif.org/content/4-lei-data/8-lei-mapping/1-download-bic-to-lei-relationship-files/bic_lei_gleif_v1_monthly_full_20200327.csv)
7. Quora
8. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
10. Name Suggestion Index
11. YouTube API
12. Wikirate
13. Atlas