Trenitalia has announced plans to launch high-speed train services between Paris and London by 2029, investing €1 billion to challenge Eurostar’s long-standing monopoly on the cross-Channel route. This strategic expansion, part of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane Group’s 2025-2029 plan, will utilize Frecciarossa-style trains and leverage the company’s existing operations in both France and the UK.
Italian state railway operator Trenitalia announced on April 8, 2025, its ambitious plan to launch high-speed train services between Paris and London by 2029. This strategic move will end Eurostar’s three-decade monopoly on the cross-Channel route, potentially transforming European rail travel.
The initiative forms part of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) Group’s 2025-2029 Strategic Plan, with a substantial €1 billion investment allocated to the project. According to company officials, the service will utilize trainsets based on the iconic red Frecciarossa high-speed trains currently operating in Italy and on the Paris-Lyon-Milan route.
Stefano Antonio Donnarumma, CEO of FS Group, emphasized the significance of this development: “This investment represents a decisive step forward in FS Group’s vision to build a more integrated, competitive, and sustainable European rail network.”
Trenitalia’s entry into this lucrative market follows a crucial regulatory decision by Britain’s Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to open Eurostar’s Temple Mills maintenance facility to competitors, removing a significant infrastructure barrier that had previously protected Eurostar’s monopoly position.
The Italian operator brings considerable experience to this venture, already operating successfully in both markets – running services in France on the Paris-Lyon-Milan route and managing c2c services in the UK while partnering with FirstGroup for Avanti West Coast operations.
To strengthen its position, FS has signed a memorandum of understanding with Spanish mobility company Evolyn, led by the Cosmen family, which had been developing a similar project since 2023. This strategic partnership could accelerate Trenitalia’s market entry by leveraging Evolyn’s existing preparatory work.
The launch timeline depends on “completion of technical and infrastructure authorizations,” with capacity expansion works planned at London St. Pancras station. Looking beyond the initial Paris-London service, FS Group is already considering potential long-distance services connecting London with Lyon, Marseille, and Milan.
Eurostar, which currently operates 14 daily journeys between Paris and London with an average travel time of 2 hours 24 minutes, responded diplomatically: “The development of cross-Channel rail is a race in which Eurostar is firmly engaged, and we welcome competition.”
Industry analysts note that the Channel Tunnel infrastructure could accommodate approximately 1,000 trains daily, compared to the current 400, indicating significant capacity for new operators in this growing market.
