ITALIAN State Railways (FS) and US investment firm Certares have agreed to form a strategic partnership to develop FS subsidiary Trenitalia’s high-speed operations outside Italy, including support for a €1bn investment plan in France and Britain.
Under an initial investment round worth €300m, the focus will be on Trenitalia France, where FS says the new investment capital will enable the company to consolidate its position as the second largest high-speed operator in France. Initiatives will include expanding the fleet to at least 19 trains and increasing frequencies on Trenitalia’s existing routes from Paris to Lyon and Marseille, with up to 28 trains a day planned between Paris and Lyon.
A new fleet maintenance facility will be developed near Paris on a site that has recently been acquired, and FS says that Trenitalia France will enter the London - Paris market by 2029. Last year Trenitalia France was unsuccessful in its attempt to secure access to the Temple Mills International (TMI) high-speed rolling stock maintenance facility in east London.
Other cross-border services are also planned. The partnership is expected to grow both business and leisure traffic as Certares will facilitate arm’s-length commercial distribution agreements between Trenitalia France and companies within the Certares portfolio, including American Express Global Business Travel.
The partnership will aim to promote high-speed rail as a greener, reliable, and cost-effective alternative to air travel for business passengers. Trenitalia France and Certares will also promote itineraries that include rail for leisure passengers.
