(dpa) - Italy's Finmeccanica industrial group and the Canadian-based Bombardier transport systems manufacturer have agreed to develop a passenger train capable of topping speeds of 300 kilometres per hour, the companies announced Tuesday.
The new train aims to incorporate "improved efficiency and safety, enhanced seating capacity and compliance with European interoperability standards," the companies said in a joint statement.
The agreement was signed by Finmeccanica's subsidiary for the railway sector AnsaldoBreda and the Canadian company's Bombardier Transportation division.
The statement did not disclose the value of the project nor a timeframe for its completion.
Bombardier has been involved in the delivery of high-speed trains in Germany, Spain and France, while both companies have participated in the ETR500 high speed train currently operating in Italy.