Italy: A decree-law establishing Rosco, a new state-owned rolling stock leasing company, is due to be submitted for approval to Italy’s Council of Ministers this month. The company will purchase trains and locomotives before leasing them to passenger operators.
The new entity is expected to receive €1.2 bln from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) at the first stage. Part of these funds was originally earmarked for Trenitalia rolling stock acquisitions, which Rosco plans to use to procure 100 trainsets.
Rosco will operate outside the FS Group perimeter. A five-member board of directors, appointed jointly by the transport and economy and finance ministries, will oversee the company. Discussions are ongoing over whether Rosco will take ownership of rolling stock already ordered by Trenitalia using NRRP funds.
FS Group’s fleet modernisation is taking place under its 2025-29 strategic plan, which includes orders for 46 new Frecciarossa 1000 high-speed trains from Hitachi Rail and 145 regional trains, including coaches and EMUs.
Lombardy’s passenger operator Trenord has recently completed Italy’s largest-ever rolling stock procurement, investing more than €1.7 bln in 214 trainsets. The order comprised 123 double-deck Caravaggio EMUs from Hitachi Rail, 61 single-deck Donizetti EMUs from Alstom, and 30 hybrid Colleoni trainsets from Stadler.
