Mayor hails new Urbos fleet as milestone for city’s public transport network.
Rome mayor Roberto Gualtieri on Friday unveiled the first of 121 brand-new trams as part of a major overhaul of the city’s public transport network.
The dark red and black Urbos vehicles built by Spanish tram manufacturer CAF were purchased as part of a €457 million investment, the largest European tender in the sector, according to Gualtieri.
An additional nine trams will arrive by June, followed by another 10 by the end of the year, to complete an initial supply of 20 vehicles.
The new trams, 33.5 metres long, will be able to carry up to 215 passengers and will gradually replace the oldest vehicles currently in service, improving capacity and frequency of the service.
The move represents the first upgrade of the capital’s tram fleet in more than 20 years, in what Gualtieri described as “a concrete step toward more modern and efficient mobility for Rome”.
Nuovi tram per Roma.
È arrivato il primo dei 121 nuovi tram realizzati da CAF, acquistati grazie alla più grande gara europea del settore: 457 milioni di euro di investimento per rinnovare la flotta della città.
Entro giugno 2026 arriveranno altri 9 tram, seguiti da ulteriori… pic.twitter.com/hhPHm0mClb
— Roberto Gualtieri (@gualtierieurope) March 6, 2026
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the new Urbos trams are designed for high energy efficiency and can operate on sections of tracks without overhead catenary lines, utilising onboard energy storage.
This technical feature is particularly important for Rome, as it allows the expansion of tramways into the historic centre without the need for intrusive electrical infrastructure that might detract from the city’s architectural heritage.
The arrival of the new trams comes after the city carried out massive infrascture works to upgrade the entire tram network, including the installation of new tracks and overhead power lines.
“This is a historic day for Rome” – the capital’s mobility councillor Eugenio Patanè said – “since after 21 long years, a new tram has finally entered our city.”
Following a period of technical testing, the first Urbos is expected to enter regular service later this spring.
