Eurostar rival orders 19 high-speed trains for London-Paris route

Key facts

• FS Group has ordered 19 new high-speed trains.
• The trains are being manufactured by Hitachi Rail.
• The new service will operate between London and Paris.
• The order is a multi-billion euro deal.
• The move aims to break Eurostar's three-decade monopoly on the route.
• Increased competition is expected to lower ticket prices.
• Increased competition is expected to improve service quality.

FS Group, Italy's state-owned railway company, has placed an order for 19 new high-speed trains from Hitachi Rail. These trains are intended for a new service that will operate between London and Paris. This multi-billion euro deal is designed to directly challenge Eurostar's nearly 30-year monopoly on this key international route. The introduction of a new competitor is anticipated to foster increased competition within the high-speed rail market connecting the UK and France. Industry observers expect this development to potentially result in reduced ticket prices for consumers and an overall improvement in the quality of services offered on the London-Paris line. The order signifies a major strategic move by FS Group to expand its international high-speed rail operations and directly enter one of Europe's busiest and most lucrative corridors.