Trenitalia has introduced airline-style dynamic pricing on its high-speed ‘Freccia’ services, where fares will now fluctuate based on real-time demand.
Under the new model, seats on peak days and times will command higher rates, while lower fares will be available during off-peak periods. The change eliminates the company’s previous pricing structure, where each Freccia service offered a fixed number of discounted ‘super economy’ and ‘economy’ tickets.
Dynamic pricing applies only to Frecciarossa, Frecciargento and Frecciabianca services, while fares for Trenitalia’s intercity and regional trains remain regulated.
Trenitalia parent group Ferrovie dello Stato said the revised pricing structure will incorporate safeguards, including a maximum price cap on tickets even during periods of high demand, according to a report by Corriere della Sera.
Increased competition on Italy’s open rail market is also expected to keep prices in check, with French operator SNCF expected to enter the market as early as 2026 with high-speed services that will compete with Trenitalia and Italo.
Meanwhile, in France, SNCF confirmed fare increases for its TGV Inoui and Ouigo services will be limited to 1 per cent in 2026 – below the expected 1.3 per cent inflation rate.
For business travellers, the price of SNCF’s Liberté card will remain unchanged at €299 for corporate clients. Discounts and benefits continue to be offered, including a 45 per cent discount in first class and 60 per cent in second class, access to Grand Voyageur lounges, and flexible last-minute exchange conditions.
In the UK, the Department for Transport previously announced a freeze on regulated rail fares in England this year – a move designed to help support economic growth.
The policy is expected to save passengers an estimated £600 million over the 2026/27 period and to provide cost certainty for frequent travellers, according to the UK government.
The fare freeze comes amid a renationalising of the country’s rail services, which will be operated under the management of a new body, Great British Railways (GBR).
In Germany, fares are expected to increase in line with inflation, which is currently expected to average around 2.2 per cent. However, the monthly subscription fee for Deutsche Bahn’s D-Ticket, increased from €58 to €63 from 1 January. Introduced in 2023, the D-ticket remains valid nationwide across all forms of local public transportation.