Italy's FS Group, the parent company of Trenitalia, has signed a major strategic agreement with the Certares investment fund. The two partners intend to support Trenitalia's international development, particularly its French and British subsidiaries. A joint venture has been set up for this purpose, with Certares also taking a stake in Trenitalia France worth 300 million euros. In particular, Certares will participate in the ambitious €1 billion investment plan in France and the UK, as Trenitalia plans to compete with Eurostar on cross-Channel routes by 2030. " New cross-border services According to the joint press release issued today, "a number of other projects are also being considered.
Preparing the 2th Trenitalia France's expansion phase
Trenitalia intends to use this welcome financial injection to strengthen its position as the second-largest operator in France, on the strength of its Paris to Lyon, Marseille and Milan and prepare for its second phase of expansion, which will require the creation of a maintenance site in the Paris suburbs and an expansion of its fleet to at least 19 trains. This growth will make it possible to increase frequencies on the Paris-Marseille route and above all on the Paris-Lyon route with " up to 28 daily circulations "Trenitalia currently operates 14 round trips a day. Trenitalia France will also be hiring several hundred new staff.
Promoting the marketing of Trenitalia through Certares brands
Founded in 2012, Certares is a fund with numerous holdings in the tourism and travel sectors in France, the UK and the USA. An unsuccessful candidate for the takeover of ITA Airways in 2022, it is present in the capital of American Express Global Business Travel (also including CWT, Ovation and Egencia), the Anglo-Saxon Internova Travel Group (including Barrhead Travel), the tour operator Voyageurs du Monde (owner of Original Travel in the UK) and above all the Lyon-based group Marietton Développement. The latter owns the Havas Voyages (including Havas Voyages Business Travel) and Selectour networks, the business agency Ailleurs Business, the business start-up Supertripper, group agency Vista Voyages, the Travel Explorer website and a host of tour operators (Austral Lagons, Voyamar, Héliades, La Française des Circuits, Jet Set, Australie Tours...).
The agreement is intended to be a win-win situation, with Trenitalia being given commercial prominence in these Certares-owned entities, with business tourism networks and brands in the lead, with the high-speed train being presented as "the best way to travel". the most ecological, reliable and competitive alternative to air transport ". The press release states that " Certares will facilitate the establishment of commercial agreements for the distribution of products between Trenitalia France and its portfolio companies. ". As far as the tourism brands are concerned, leisure itineraries and tours will also include travel on Trenitalia's Frecciarossa trains where possible. This is bad news for SNCF, as Certares is a shareholder in the main business and leisure distribution networks in France and the English-speaking world.
