ROME, April 20 (UPI) -- The operator of Italy's new high speed Frecciarossa 1000 says the train can travel at 223 mph, making it the fastest in the world.
"Frecciarossa 1000 is unique in the international scenario owing to its technological innovations, technical performance, interoperability, design, quality and safety," said state-owned railway company Ferrovie dello Stato.
The train is "set to raise the current technical, environmental, external and internal aesthetic standards, while guaranteeing maximum performance and travel comfort," the statement said.
The train, which was presented to President Giorgio Napolitano in Rome in March is now on a promotional tour of Europe, Ansa reported Saturday.
The train is part of a $6.5 billion upgrade for the Italian railway service, which already runs 60 ETR500 Frecciarossa bullet trains, which travel at 186 mph.
The company has ordered 50 of the newer, faster trains, Ansa said.
Used mostly for a hop from Rome to Venice, the new train drops the "Silver Arrow" ETR610 Frecciargento model to the third-fastest in Italy, running at a top speed of 155 mph.
