Key facts
- FS Italiane Group's Trenitalia will launch high-speed rail services between Paris and London in 2029.
- Trenitalia has ordered 19 high-speed trains from Hitachi Rail Ltd.
- The total investment is approximately 2 billion euro, including train construction and long-term maintenance.
- The new trains will also enhance existing services on routes connecting Paris with Lyon, Milan, and Marseille.
- A new maintenance hub is being developed at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour, southeast of Paris.
FS Italiane Group announced that its Trenitalia operating unit will launch high-speed rail services between Paris and London in 2029. The company has ordered 19 high-speed trains from Hitachi Rail Ltd. as part of a 2 billion euro investment, which includes the construction of the trains and long-term maintenance and technical support.
The new ETR 1000 Frecciarossa trains will be operated by Trenitalia France, a subsidiary of FS International. These trains will not only form the core fleet for the planned Paris-London operation but will also support the expansion of Trenitalia's existing high-speed services connecting Paris with Lyon, Milan, and Marseille. This move aims to introduce another operator to the competitive Channel Tunnel rail corridor, where Eurostar has been the sole provider since 1994.
FS Group is also investing in infrastructure, including the development of a new maintenance facility at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour, southeast of Paris, to accommodate the expanded fleet and new international services. The overall investment is expected to create approximately 2,000 jobs across France, Italy, and the UK, both directly and through the supply chain. The trains are designed for cross-border interoperability across Europe's main high-speed networks and will feature upgraded interiors, Wi-Fi connectivity, and enhanced onboard services. Hitachi Rail highlighted the sustainability aspects, noting a recyclability rate of up to 97.1% and an expected reduction of 120,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions per trainset compared to previous generations.
This order is a strategic component of FS Group's broader international expansion strategy and its partnership with investment firm Certares, which aims to build an international high-speed rail platform under the 'Metro of Europe' concept. The Paris-London service launch is contingent on meeting the necessary operational and regulatory requirements for international Channel Tunnel operations.