FS is investing 2 billion in 19 new Paris–London high-speed trains
Trains under the Channel in 2029. The aim: to break Eurostar’s monopoly
The Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) group, through its subsidiary Trenitalia France, is expanding its fleet with 19 high-speed trains supplied by Hitachi Rail to support its growth plans: in France, between Paris and London via the Channel Tunnel, and across the rest of Europe. The new-generation Frecciarossa trains are designed to operate on Europe’s main high-speed networks. This was announced in a statement by the FS Group.
The investment, amounting to around two billion euros, covers the construction of the trains as well as the long-term maintenance and technical support required. All the trains will be manufactured at the Italian plants of Hitachi Rail, a Japanese multinational, with the facilities in Pistoia and Naples playing a leading role (Hitachi Rail also has a plant in Reggio Calabria).
The new trains will enable Trenitalia France, a subsidiary of FS International, to strengthen its presence on the Paris–Lyon, Paris–Milan and Paris–Marseille routes, improving service quality, increasing the frequency of services and, furthermore, forming the fleet for the future high-speed link between Paris and London, which is confirmed to launch in 2029. The plan is ambitious: to challenge Eurostar on a route that is currently a de facto monopoly.
The expansion of the fleet is a key element of the international development strategy of Trenitalia France and Ferrovie dello Stato, as well as an important step towards the completion of the strategic partnership between the FS Group and the Certares fund, an international investor headquartered in New York (Madison Avenue) and offices in Luxembourg and Milan. Beyond the challenge of the Channel crossing, Certares will help Trenitalia France to strengthen the services it currently operates within France (on the Paris–Lyon and Paris–Marseille routes), as well as on the Paris–Milan route. In France and the United Kingdom, Certares has a strong presence in travel distribution through agreements with a number of partners, including American Express Global Business Travel.
To support operational growth, the development of the new maintenance facility at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour, on the outskirts of Paris, is also proceeding according to plan. The facility will provide the maintenance capacity required to support the expansion of the fleet and the launch of new international routes.
