Italian rail operator FS Italiane Group has ordered 19 new high-speed trains as part of a £1.7 billion (2 billion euros) plan to launch a Paris-London service through the Channel Tunnel, scheduled to start in 2029. The move is expected to give British holidaymakers a new rail option to mainland Europe.
New trains and routes
The order, reported by the International Railway Journal, includes trains that will also be used to expand Trenitalia France services on existing routes from Paris to Lyon, Milan, and Marseille. The new trains will feature Wi-Fi connectivity of up to 10GB/s, a bistro concept, and a fresh interior design.
The trains will be maintained at a new £68 million facility being built on the outskirts of Paris, at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour.
CEO statement
Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO and general manager of FS, said: “The new trains and the new Maisons-Alfort Pompadour 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’, an integrated high-speed network that will increasingly connect Europe’s major cities.”
Impact on Channel Tunnel capacity
The Channel Tunnel, which opened in 1994, reportedly currently runs at only 50% capacity. Eurostar has dominated the route since its inception, but more operators are now looking to run high-speed trains on the network.
Earlier this month, Transport Scotland announced it was assessing the possibility of a Caledonian Sleeper service from Glasgow or Edinburgh to mainland Europe. Virgin Trains is also set to launch services through the tunnel from 2030, initially to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, with plans for other destinations. Sir Richard Branson has said he would like to see direct routes from London to Charles de Gaulle Airport and Disneyland Paris.
