Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group) has signed an agreement with Hitachi Rail for the supply of 19 new high-speed trains. The €2 billion (£1.7 billion) fleet, which has been ordered by FS Group subsidiary Trenitalia France, will be used for the London to Paris route, scheduled to launch in 2029.
American investment backs European rail challenge
The state-owned Italian operator revealed in January it would partner with Certares, a US private investment firm, to develop the high-speed rail route. That partnership provides financial muscle for a project that aims to end Eurostar's three-decade control over the Channel Tunnel passenger service. Several operators, such as Evolyn in Spain and Virgin Trains in the UK, have sought to compete with Eurostar in the past. The tunnel has only been operating at 50% capacity, meaning the goal was wide open for a competitor to join.
Each vehicle will bring "next-generation" Wi-Fi connectivity, an on-board bistro, and "an even more comfortable travel experience." The company added its new fleet will also strengthen existing routes from Paris to Lyon, Milan and Marseille. Around the same time, the group also found a way around having to use UK train storage facilities by announcing plans to build an €80 million storage facility just outside of Paris. Before that, it looked likely that Virgin Trains would be the first to compete alongside Eurostar after it secured permission to store trains at the Temple Mill International depot.
Metro of Europe vision
Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO of FS Italiane Group, told Time Out that the new trains and the maintenance hub are "fundamental elements for the launch of the Paris, London connection, a project that is central to our vision of the 'Metro of Europe', the integrated high-speed network that will increasingly connect Europe's major cities".