How would you describe your business in France?
Marco Caposciutti - We have carried two million passengers in just over two years. Following the landslides in the Maurienne which led to the suspension of the Paris-Milan route, our business this year is concentrated on the Paris-Lyon route, on which we operate five daily return trips. Business customers account for 45% of our passengersin pure business or bleisure. Our on-board offer is already very well adapted to business customers, with our Business and Executive classes, the Allegro and Silencio environments, the Sala Meeting, efficient Wi-Fi, sockets in all classes, catering at the seat... Until now, business travellers bought their tickets like all leisure customers, in Executive, Standard or Business, with a preference for the Silencio environment, which accounts for two-thirds of the 70 seats in this last class. A new step was taken a week ago with the launch of our Trenitalia Pro commercial offer aimed at these business customers.
What are the advantages of Trenitalia Pro?
Marco Caposciutti - Firstly, it's easy to register for Trenitalia Pro via our Trenitalia.com website if you meet the eligibility criteria. Then there's the flexibility of using the Serenità Pro tariff, which allows you to benefit from a reduced fare. fixed pricing in each class of travel (*). This avoids the need for additional fares if the ticket is exchanged. The aim was to make the offer as simple as possible in order to make it easier for business travellers to sign up and to develop sales with this clientele. Trenitalia's aim is to stand out for its excellent value for money, simple fares, punctuality and frequency. In fact, during the period of the Olympic Games, we will be adding a sixth daily return trip to meet the expected increase in traffic.
the Silencio atmosphere in Business class
What's the next step in increasing your business sales?
Marco Caposciutti - In 2024, it is vital that we develop our partnerships with BtoB distribution platforms. Trenitalia works with travel agencies in order to be integrated into the reservation tools, GDS and other OBTs used by major accounts, SMEs and SMIs. Trenitalia is already referenced by Trainline, a long-standing partner that is very active in BtoC and increasingly active in BtoB, but also by Omio, Kombo, Rail Europe, etc.
What are Trenitalia's plans for France?
Marco Caposciutti - Of course, we are impatiently awaiting the reopening of the Paris-Milan line at the end of 2024. This is a symbolic line for us, which will also strengthen services to Lyon. Trenitalia will then have nine trainsets in circulation, compared with five at present. This will represent 40% of additional capacity. Our aim is to strengthen existing services and open up new routes. On the first point, this will involve the possibility of coupling two Frecciarossa trainsets. Tests are underway, with approval expected in September. As for the second aspect, Trenitalia has international ambitions, with the launch in early 2025 of a Paris-Geneva service from the Gare de Lyon. Also under study for 2027-2028 are projects on the Brussels, Amsterdam and London routes from Paris-Nord station. Marseille, as well as a connection to the Spanish network at Barcelona Sants station, where Trenitalia is present through its subsidiary Iryo, are other possibilities under consideration. This will mean having more trainsets on French soil and dealing with the issue of maintenance, part of which is already carried out near Paris, at Charenton, with heavy work requiring the high-speed trains to be returned to Italy. This is an important factor that will determine our development plan from 2025 onwards.
(*) Serenita Pro fares are available up to the last available seat and are priced at €49 one-way in Standard class, €69 in Business, €144 in Executive and from €79 per person in Sala Meeting on the basis of 5 participants.
