La competition between SNCF and Trenitalia is going from strength to strength! And this time it concerns its subsidiary Eurostar. Le Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane group (FS), the parent company of Trenitalia, has announced the launch of high-speed connections on the Paris-London by 2029. The service will use trains inspired by the Frecciarossa, the "Red Arrow" high-speed trains used by Trenitalia in Italy, France and Spain. The budget allocated to this project is substantial, estimated at one billion euros. " This investment represents a decisive step forward in the FS Group's vision of building a more integrated, competitive and sustainable European rail networkin line with the objectives of the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, which places increasing emphasis on passenger transport abroad to accelerate our international development" said Stefano Antonio, Managing Director of the FS Group, in a press release.
A possible launch in partnership with the Spanish consortium Evolyn
However, the Italian railways are not embarking on this adventure alone, as they have chosen to join forces with Evolyn which had been working on a similar project since 2023 and intended to order 12 TGVs from Alstom. A memorandum of understanding for a potential development partnership has been signed between the FS group and Evolyn, a consortium owned by the Spanish family group Cosmen, which already has a transport presence in the UK through Mobico Group (formerly Nationa Express). If this partnership is confirmed, the FS group will benefit from the studies and work already carried out by Evolyn, which at the time hoped to begin rail operations between Paris and London this year.
A competitive advantage with the Trenitalia brand already present in France and the UK
Several factors led the Italian group to take the plunge. The first is its presence on both sides of the Channel, with Trenitalia France and Trenitalia UK, which will facilitate its operations but also the marketing of tickets with a brand already known by the public. The second is operational, with the UK's Office of Rail and Road having granted the new entrant access to its future trains at the Temple Mills maintenance depot currently used by Eurostar. The Italian operator says it has already obtained "the necessary licences and permits in France and is working with key stakeholders to manage the regulatory and operational aspects. Technical assessments are underway to ensure optimal integration of the new high-speed services via Eurotunnel and the rail networks of France and the UK" . Getlink should thus greatly facilitate the establishment of this operator, as theparent company of Eurotunnel has been campaigning for years for the arrival of a second player on the cross-Channel route, believing that the capacity of the Channel Tunnel is under-exploited.
The launch could take place before 2029 " depending on the completion of technical and infrastructure authorisations" . In particular, work is planned to increase capacity at London's St. Pancras station. Last but not leastFS is very ambitious in this Franco-British expansion, as the rail group intends to capitalise on its experience acquired in France by already announcing that it is working on possible long-distance connections, from London to Lyon, Marseille and Milan.
