Kevin Speed's ambition is to become "the" new player in high-speed rail transport by 2029. Its project has taken another step forward following the approval by the Autorité de Régulation des Transports (ART) of its framework agreement signed on 29 February with SNCF Réseau. Signed for a renewable period of 10 years, the agreement should enable Kevin Speed to obtain from SNCF Réseau the precious train paths needed to run the TGVs of its subsidiary, named ilisto " by the end of 2028" .
In its consultative opinion, the ART refers to the introduction of the 2029 hourly service, i.e. a commercial launch that would begin in December 2028. Three high-speed lines (LGV) have already been selected: Paris Gare du Nord-Lille Flandres, Paris Gare de l'Est-Strasbourg and Paris Gare de Lyon-Lyon Part-Dieu, with stops at intermediate TGV stations.
A low-cost offer for 16 daily round trips
ART confirms that this project " does not hinder the use of the infrastructure by other applicants or transport services" . It also validates the ten-year renewable term, given the scale of the investment to be made by Kevin Speed and the risks involved in the activity. Summarising the main features of the project, the ART specifies that this initial 10-year operating period may include " a gradual build-up over the first three years of service" . The aim is to reach 16 daily return trips on weekdays, the heart of Kevin Speed's business, in order to attract business and leisure customers, since the offer could be " lite Ilisto will also be offering a "new" service at weekends and during the school holidays. To compete commercially with SNCF Voyageurs, Ilisto plans to develop a " low cost "To achieve this, we are using high-capacity trains that can carry around 750 passengers. That's 30 more than the SNCF's future TGV M.
The next step is to complete the financing to order the TGVs
ART also notes the green light given by the various regions it crosses, which did not issue an unfavourable opinion by not referring the matter to the body before the 12 April deadline. In a press release, Kevin Speed expressed his satisfaction at becoming " the leading player in the rail industry, complementary to SNCF VoyageursWe are confident that we will be able to achieve this level of confidence from the Ministry of Transport, local authorities and the independent authority, ART." . Laurent Fourtune, Chairman of Kevin Speed, hopes that this commitment from the French authorities will increase the interest of private French and foreign investors in the birthplace of ilisto, at a time when the group is seeking to raise €1.2 billion.
The launch of a new rail operator is highly capital-intensive, with, as soon as the business plan is completed, the control phase rolling stock from a rail manufacturer such as Alstom, Siemens or Talgo. In its opinion, the ART states that " the framework agreement is an effective tool for managing capacity on the rail network in a context of increasing competition in passenger transport services" . She advises SNCF Réseau to continue its transparency approach with regard to all applicants and to ensure that the system is properly integrated into the capacity structuring process, in the interests of a forward-looking vision of the use of the rail network." . If Kevin Speed does not obtain the train paths ordered for its Ilisto service from SNCF Réseau, the contract stipulates that penalties and compensation may be claimed by this new rail player.
