EUROPE: Support for the Italian national railway’s €1bn European high speed rail expansion plans including the proposed launch of Paris – London train services is included in a strategic partnership agreement signed by FS Group and investment group Certares.
The agreement signed on December 29 provides for the creation of a joint venture along with investment to accelerate the growth of Trenitalia France in France, the UK and other cross-border markets.
Trenitalia France plans to deploy the new capital to consolidate its position as France’s second-largest high speed rail operator. It currently operates on the Paris – Lyon and Paris – Marseille routes, as well as running cross-border Paris – Milano services. It intends to further expand its network, including additional cross-border services.
Key initiatives include expanding the fleet to at least 19 trainsets; developing a new maintenance facility near Paris; increasing frequencies on existing routes with up to 28 daily train pairs between Paris and Lyon; creating ‘hundreds’ of new jobs; and, continuing investments in technology, branding and marketing.
London services
FS Group hopes to launch services on the Paris – London route through the Channel Tunnel by 2029.
Speaking to Railway Gazette International earlier in December, Trenitalia France CEO Marco Caposicutti said the company plans to offer 10 daily return trains between the capitals. Trenitalia France would be the operator, and it would use 10 Hitachi Rail second generation ETR400 trainsets. These are expected to be maintained at the company’s proposed Paris servicing hub.
Attracting people to rail
In parallel, Trenitalia France and Certares plan to promote rail-inclusive itineraries for leisure travellers, integrate booking and dynamic packaging tools and encourage people to choose rail as their preferred mode of transport.
As part of the partnership, Certares is to facilitate arm’s-length commercial agreements focused on product distribution between Trenitalia France and its portfolio companies; its presence in travel distribution includes investments in AmEx Global Business Travel (including CWT, Ovation, and Egencia), Marietton Développement (including Havas Voyages and Selectour), Voyageurs du Monde (including Original Travel) and Internova Travel Group (including Barrhead Travel).
FS Group said combining Trenitalia France’s operational experience with Certares’ global travel distribution network aims to position France, the Paris – London corridor and future territories included in the joint venture as ‘showcases for the future of sustainable European travel’.
