Tracks of Innovation – Alstom’s permanent exhibition in Vado Ligure

Discover the permanent exhibition at the Alstom site in Vado Ligure

For more than 120 years, the Alstom site in Vado Ligure has been a place where industrial expertise meets a constant commitment to innovation. A legacy built on people, skills and vision, which from one generation to the next has shaped locomotives and railway solutions designed to support the evolution of rail transport in Italy and around the world—transforming passion and know-how into advanced mobility systems.

The permanent exhibition recounts this long journey through images, objects, scale models and other displays, tracing the key milestones of a continuous evolution—from the site’s origins and the most significant moments in its development to the latest-generation locomotives, created to ensure more efficient, sustainable and safe freight and passenger transport.

Step aboard and be guided through an immersive and engaging experience: interactive installations, digital content and hands-on activities invite visitors of all ages to explore, learn and discover. At the heart of the story is the industrial spirit of the Vado Ligure site—still today a source of ideas, vision and inspiration for the mobility of tomorrow.

Tracks of Innovation, The history of the Vado Ligure production site and the evolution of its locomotives, permanent exhibition

Watch the video for a sneak peak of the exhibition at Vado Ligure.

The exhibition layout

Housed within one of the historic buildings dating back to the early 20th century, this space is conceived as a dynamic environment featuring hands-on demonstrations, educational and scientific activities, and interactive installations. Together, it offers an accessible introduction to the fundamentals of railway engineering and innovation. It represents a tangible opportunity to engage young people and students with STEM subjects and the world of mechatronics, fostering curiosity and the development of new skills.

“Tracks of innovation” (Binari d’innovazione) is been created with the ambition of becoming a cultural hub open to the wider community, as well as to students, families and railway enthusiasts.

  • Floor 2

    4. The era of modern locomotives (1950–1980)

    Experiment – Air resistance

    5. Railways in the electronic age (1980–2000)

    Experiment – Friction

    Locomotive driving simulator

    6. The future is already here (2000–present)

    The hydrogen tilt-maze

    C. The applied thought workshop

    Floor 1

    1. The pioneers of innovation (1906)

    Experiment – Conical wheels

    2. The era of great challenges (1907–1920)

    3. New technologies: a gamble (1920–1950)

    Experiment – Braking system

    Model with locomotives

    Ground Floor

    A. Entrance and introduction to the exhibition

    B. What is a locomotive and how is it constructed

    Toilets

TRACKS OF INNOVATION, Permanent exhibition

Book a visit

The permanent exhibition is hosted within the Alstom site in Vado Ligure, located at Via Tecnomasio 2, and can be visited exclusively by prior appointment.

For individual visitors or small groups, visits take place on the first and third Friday of each month, between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

For larger groups and school groups, booking requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in order to best organise dates, times, and visiting arrangements.

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    For information and bookings

    Contact

  • In line with Alstom’s values and its commitment to inclusion and to putting people first, "Tracks of innovation" has been conceived as an open and welcoming space, accessible to everyone.

    For us, accessibility means enabling every visitor to experience the pleasure of discovery and to take part in an experience that brings together knowledge, play and personal development.

    The exhibition is designed as a shared meeting place for children, families, schools and enthusiasts, where hands-on experimentation, learning by doing and social interaction play a central role. Visits are supported by audio guides in Italian and English, available in both extended and condensed versions to meet different needs.

    Particular care has been devoted to the design of the spaces and content, based on a thoughtful study of colours, lighting, layouts and typography, to ensure clarity of information and a smooth, comfortable visitor experience.

    Alongside solutions dedicated to physical accessibility and visitor wellbeing, the overall goal is to offer an inclusive, calm and welcoming experience, making the exhibition as accessible as possible to all.

    • Please speak quietly to help preserve the atmosphere and allow everyone to fully enjoy the exhibition.
    • Kindly refrain from touching the exhibits, as they are valuable and delicate.
    • Photography is allowed; however, please do not use flash, as intense light may damage the materials on display.
    • Food and drinks are not permitted in the exhibition areas, in order to ensure cleanliness and safety.
    • Please switch your mobile phone to silent mode to enjoy a more immersive and uninterrupted experience.

    • Children should be accompanied at all times. We encourage you to share your curiosity and discoveries with them, as the exhibition is a place of memory, emotion and wonder.

      By showing consideration and respect for others, you will help us preserve this space for future visitors as well.

  • Alstom plant at Via Tecnomasio 2, 17047 Vado Ligure (SV)

    By car: from the A10/E80 motorway towards France, take the Savona exit and follow the signs for Vado Ligure / Quiliano. Continue along the Strada di Scorrimento Veloce and take the exit for Via Sardegna. At the end of the exit ramp, turn right onto Via G. Ferraris, then turn left onto Via Tecnomasio and continue to number 2, at the end of the road.

    Parking is available along Via Tecnomasio.

The Alstom site in Vado Ligure

Covering an area of more than 66,500 square metres and employing around 300 professionals, the Alstom site in Vado Ligure has become a strategic hub for the company, the local community and the national industrial landscape.

Following its acquisition by Alstom in 2021, the site has been transformed into a highly specialised facility, built on advanced technical expertise, cutting-edge technologies and two core business lines: Rolling Stock and Services.

At the heart of this development is the expansion of Traxx Universal locomotive production—a constantly evolving platform and the backbone of the site’s activities—with more than 250 units sold in Italy alone.

Alongside Traxx Universal locomotives, the Vado Ligure site plays a key role thanks to an increasingly diversified portfolio, ranging from Multisystem locomotives to the Power Car of the hydrogen train, as well as the driver’s cabs for Coradia Stream trains.

Ongoing infrastructure upgrades—including advanced testing facilities, digital systems and a dedicated fleet-monitoring control room—together with a new building, support the further expansion of activities, particularly in the monitoring and maintenance of regional and high-speed trains.

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