The Italian TGV challenges Eurostar’s monopoly on England
This page is translated from the original post "LE TGV italien s’attaque au monopole d’Eurostar sur l’Angleterre" in French.
- 08/04/2025 13:12
The FS Italiane Group has announced an ambitious project to launch a new high-speed rail link between London and Paris.
The Italian group’s goal is to open this line, competing with Eurostar, by 2029, with an estimated investment of 1 billion euros. This initiative is part of its 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, which emphasizes expanding high-speed connections across Europe.
Such an investment is not within the reach of the group alone, no matter how resilient it may be. A memorandum of understanding has been signed with the Spanish consortium Evolyn, led by the Cosmen family, experts in managing and expanding mobility projects. This partnership aims to strengthen the FS Group’s position as a leader in the high-speed train sector in Europe.
Stefano Antonio Donnarumma, CEO of FS, highlighted that this investment aligns with a broader vision of developing an integrated, competitive, and sustainable European railway network. He added that high-speed trains are essential for environmentally friendly mobility and that increased competition in the rail sector will provide a credible alternative to air transport.
The trains used on this new line will be inspired by the Frecciarossa, known for its energy efficiency, comfort, and quality of service. This announcement follows the confirmation by the UK’s Office of Rail and Roads of access to the Temple Mills maintenance depot, facilitating entry for a new operator between London and Paris.
Thanks to its already well-established presence in France with Trenitalia and in the UK with Trenitalia UK, the FS Group has a significant competitive advantage to develop this new line. Technical assessments and procedures to obtain the necessary permits are underway to ensure optimal integration with the railway networks of both countries.
The launch of the service will depend on the completion of technical and infrastructural approvals, marking the beginning of a new phase of railway competition in Europe.
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