Trenitalia Commits €2bn to Launch Paris–London High-Speed Challenge

Hitachi Rail will supply 19 new international trainsets as FS Group accelerates plans to compete with Eurostar and establish a new cross-border high-speed network linking London with major European cities.

Italian state railway operator FS Group has taken a major step towards breaking Eurostar's long-held dominance of the Channel Tunnel after confirming a €2 billion (£1.7 billion) investment in new high-speed rolling stock and maintenance infrastructure.

Through its French subsidiary Trenitalia France, the operator has placed an order with Hitachi Rail for 19 new international high-speed trains, paving the way for the launch of open-access passenger services between Paris and London later this decade.

The order also includes a long-term maintenance and technical support agreement and forms a central part of the company's wider European expansion strategy.

London Services Targeted for 2029

FS Group intends to begin operating services between Paris Gare de Lyon and London St Pancras International in 2029, subject to regulatory approvals and operational readiness.

Alongside the flagship cross-Channel route, the additional fleet will also strengthen Trenitalia's existing and planned high-speed operations linking Paris with destinations including:

• Lyon

• Milan

• Marseille

The investment reflects the operator's ambition to build a larger international high-speed network capable of competing across key European transport corridors.

Hitachi to Supply New International Fleet

Although the final train specification has yet to be confirmed, the new fleet is widely expected to be based on Hitachi Rail's ETR1000 platform.

The trains already operate successfully on Italy's Frecciarossa network and on Spain's Iryo high-speed services, offering the interoperability required for cross-border operations.

Any trains entering Channel Tunnel service will also need to meet stringent technical and safety requirements specific to international operations between France and the UK.

New Maintenance Hub Planned Near Paris

Alongside the rolling stock order, FS Group plans to develop a dedicated maintenance depot at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour, on the outskirts of Paris.

The facility will provide servicing and technical support for the new fleet while strengthening the operator's long-term presence in the French market.

The combined investment in train manufacturing, maintenance and ongoing support is expected to create or sustain around 2,000 jobs across France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Competing for the Channel Tunnel

The announcement comes as competition to enter the London-Paris market continues to intensify.

Trenitalia was one of several operators seeking access to Temple Mills International Depot, alongside Evolyn, Gemini Trains and Virgin.

Virgin has since announced a cooperation agreement with Eurostar covering depot access, while Trenitalia is instead progressing its own maintenance strategy centred on its new Paris facility.

The growing interest from multiple operators signals the biggest challenge to Eurostar's market position since Channel Tunnel passenger services began.

'Metro of Europe' Vision

FS Group Chief Executive Gianpiero Strisciuglio said the investment forms part of the company's long-term ambition to create what it describes as a "Metro of Europe"—an integrated high-speed network linking the continent's major cities through fast, seamless rail connections.

He described both the new train fleet and the planned maintenance hub as fundamental building blocks for launching services between Paris and London.

Meanwhile, Hitachi Rail Group Chief Executive Giuseppe Marino said the trains would combine high levels of sustainability, operational efficiency and cross-border interoperability, characteristics that are becoming increasingly important as demand for international rail travel continues to grow.

While no detailed timetable has yet been published, the order represents one of the clearest indications yet that competition on the Channel Tunnel route is set to increase significantly before the end of the decade, potentially giving passengers greater choice on one of Europe's busiest international rail corridors.