Trenitalia owner FS Group has confirmed plans to launch a Paris–London service in 2029, as the rail operator expands its cross-border high-speed network.
Trenitalia France this month agreed to buy 19 high-speed trains from Hitachi Rail, which will form the fleet for the planned Paris–London service and support the operator’s growth in France.
The new trains will feature “next-generation” wifi connectivity of up to 10 gigabits per second, redesigned interiors across all travel classes and a new bistro concept, according to FS Group.
The investment, worth approximately €2 billion, includes construction of the trains as well as long-term maintenance and technical support.
Trenitalia France already operates high-speed services on the Paris-Lyon, Paris-Marseille and Paris-Milan routes, with frequencies expected to increase following the fleet expansion.
The rail operator is also developing a new maintenance facility at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour, on the outskirts of Paris, to support fleet expansion and the launch of new international services.
FS Group described the Hitachi deal as “a key component” of its international development strategy and “an important step” in its joint venture partnership with investment firm Certares. It also comes as competition heats up for cross-Channel services between the UK and mainland Europe, with Eurostar, which has long held a monopoly on such services, this week challenging the UK regulator’s decision to grant Virgin Trains access to the Channel Tunnel.
FS Group CEO and general manager Gianpiero Strisciuglio said: “The new trains and the new maintenance hub at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour are fundamental to the launch of the Paris–London service, a central project in the vision of the ‘European Metro’ – an integrated high-speed network that will increasingly connect Europe's major cities.”
Certares senior managing director and founder Greg O’Hara added: “The potential of this partnership is exceeding our expectations. We have seen extraordinary interest from investors of all types who want exposure to the European high-speed rail market and are excited to participate with us in the development of the sector.”
Trenitalia France said it has also finalised commercial partnership agreements with Certares’ distribution partners. These agreements will be progressively implemented “in the coming months” and are expected to expand the company’s distribution capabilities and facilitate the development of future international services, according to the rail operator.