Italy’s state railway announces plans to compete with Eurostar on France-UK route
The Virgin group is also reviewing a service. In theory competition should lower ticket prices
The famous ‘Frecciarossa’ trains may soon be spotted in London
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Italy’s state rail company has announced plans to launch services between France and the UK through the Channel Tunnel, bringing the potential number of passenger rail operators along the line to three.
The Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (similar to France’s SNCF) made the announcement as part of its 2025 - 2029 strategy.
It means, in theory, the service could be launched in the next four years although no concrete timeline has been released.
The Italian operator, parent company of Trenitalia – known for its famous red Frecciarossa trains – confirmed a budget of around €1 billion for the plan, alongside signing a memorandum of understanding with Spanish group Evolyn about working on the route.
It is currently carrying out technical assessments for route operations with Channel Tunnel operator Getlink.
It follows earlier reports about private rail operator Virgin, which is looking to raise around €830 million to open a Paris-London route through the Channel Tunnel. It has not committed to launching a service but says it is reviewing possibilities.
The route would be a further expansion to Trenitalia’s Paris-based routes, which currently include trains to Lyon, Milan (through Lyon), and a Paris-Marseille line.
The operator is also interested in opening routes from Paris to other international destinations such as Amsterdam and Brussels.
Is Channel Tunnel expansion good for passengers?
Currently Eurostar is the only group operating passenger rail services on the Channel Tunnel - however the line is open to competition.
EU regulations on rail competition and a bid from the operator of the high-speed rail on the UK side of the route (in Kent and London) to increase rail traffic has sparked interest from several operators, with Trenitalia and Virgin being the first to take further steps.
Read more: Is it correct that a new London-Lyon Eurostar link is planned?
“Increased competition [on the route] will help create a more efficient and customer-focused sector, offering a real alternative to air transport,” said Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane CEO Antonio Donnarumma.
This in theory, is true – the more available options between the cities on the lines, the more operators will need to compete for ticket purchases, often leading to lower prices.
Trenitalia’s current routes in France offer competitive prices for passengers.
Technically, the Channel Tunnel can handle significantly more passenger rail traffic than it currently sees, meaning operators will likely be authorised to run services without much technical hassle.
Read more: What is the best way to travel between London and Paris?
