120 years of the Vado Ligure site
On 13 April 2026 we celebrate 120 years of the Alstom site in Vado Ligure, excellence in the Italian railway industry. Since 1906, this site has given birth to technologies that have marked the evolution of rail transport, up to the most recent solutions for sustainable mobility, from the latest generation locomotives to the hydrogen train project.
Since the acquisition by Alstom in 2021, the site is undergoing a new phase of revitalisation, thanks to investments, infrastructure extensions and production lines in continuity with the history that has always represented one of the most important industrial poles in the area.
This anniversary celebrates not only a place that symbolises innovation and skills, a true “workshop of knowledge” but above all the community of workers who for over a century have been building and preserving a precious human and industrial heritage, to be preserved and handed down to future generations.
The pioneers of innovation
The Alstom plant in Vado Ligure was founded in 1906, in an Italy experiencing the first processes of industrialisation, with the aim of supporting the electrification of the national railway network. From the very beginning the site stood out as a place for design, experimentation and production, quickly becoming a centre of international excellence thanks to the contribution of leading engineers and technicians.
During the 20th century, Vado Ligure played a leading role in the main transformations of railway traction: from three-phase electric traction on mountain lines to the spread of direct current at 3000 volts, up to the development of modern locomotives after World War II. Iconic models such as the E.550 “Mulo dei Giovi”, E.626, E.636 and E.444 tell the story of the evolution of power, speed and reliability, accompanying the growth of Italian rail transport.
From the 1980s, the introduction of electronics marked a radical change: locomotives became intelligent systems, equipped with digital control, diagnostics and microprocessors. Thus were born the “Tiger” locomotives, the E.652 and the multi-system models, up to the great renewal of regional transport with the E.464.
In more recent years, the factory participated in the high-speed revolution with the ETR.500 and ETR.400, and then focused on the production of the most popular locomotives in Europe: the Traxx.
Traxx Universal locomotives
The Coradia Stream H hydrogen train
The Alstom site in Vado Ligure today
The introduction of the Traxx DC2 (E.483) marks the start of a new era in rail freight transport, designed for the liberalised market. With over 190 units produced, the Vado Ligure site serves as a hub for manufacturing, maintenance and operator support, with versions also destined for other European countries.
In 2019, the Traxx Universal (E.494) entered service, the third generation of the platform and the ultimate expression of the modern freight locomotive. With power output of up to 6.4 MW, advanced traction control systems, high-efficiency motors and predictive maintenance, it guarantees high performance and reliability. Among the innovations, the Last Mile system stands out, enabling operation even on non-electrified sections.
Innovation continues towards sustainability with the Coradia Stream H, Italy’s first hydrogen-powered train. The Power Car, the train’s energy hub, is being built in Vado Ligure; it integrates fuel cells, hydrogen tanks and control systems, generating energy with reduced emissions and marking a concrete step towards more sustainable rail transport.
In over 120 years, the Vado Ligure site has evolved from a vertical production organisation to a highly specialised factory, embedded in a modern industrial process. Today, the main activities concern sub-assemblies, assembly of complete vehicles, including mechanical and electrical assemblies, and functional testing of vehicles.
Over time, high-tech departments have been created, dedicated to structural bonding in controlled environments, watertightness tests, the first dynamic tests on electrified tracks, and digital fleet monitoring via a modern Control Room. The site's role in maintenance and major overhauls was also strengthened, with new areas dedicated to complete passenger trains.
At the same time, the way of working has changed: digital tools, special process control and a constant focus on quality now accompany the experience and manual skills of the workforce. With more than 2,000 locomotives produced, Alstom's Vado Ligure site remains an industrial centre of reference, where technological innovation continues to be based on the skills and knowledge of the people who work there.
The Alstom team (2026)
“Binari d'innovazione”: a permanent exhibition for the territory and the community
In order to celebrate more than a century of industrial history and to return to the territory a heritage that represents its identity, during the event “Binari d'innovazione”, a permanent exhibition inside the site conceived as a place of knowledge, memory and discovery, is previewed. Not just an exhibition space, but a meeting point between past and future, where industrial culture is preserved and at the same time renewed. The route retraces the evolution of the locomotives produced in Vado Ligure through original objects, models, photographs and multimedia contents, highlighting both technological advances and the stories, trades and skills that have nourished this tradition. The aim is to keep alive an industrial memory that continues to inspire those who inherited it and those who today can discover new perspectives through it.
The space, housed in one of the historic turn-of-the-century buildings, is designed as a dynamic environment with hands-on demonstrations, educational and scientific activities and interactive installations that provide an accessible insight into the principles of railway engineering and innovation. A concrete opportunity to bring young people and students closer to STEM disciplines and the world of mechatronics, stimulating curiosity and new skills.
“Binari d'innovazione” is been created with the ambition of becoming a cultural reference point open to the community, students, families and enthusiasts.
The exhibition will be open to the public by appointment from May 2026.
