A 2 billion investment of euros for purchase 19 new high-speed trains and prepare the debut of the line Paris-London in 2029. This is the new plan announced by the FS Group, which has entrusted Hitachi Rail the construction of the convoys intended for Trenitalia France (FS International). The operation aims to strengthen existing connections in France and expand the Italian railway group's international offering.
The new trains will be used on the Paris-Lyon, Paris-Milan and Paris-Marseille routes, where they will increase frequencies and improve service quality. The same fleet will then be used for the future high-speed connection between Paris and London, scheduled to enter service in 2029.
Investments, maintenance and 2.000 new jobs
The investment not only concerns the construction of the trains, but also includes the maintenance and technical support activities planned for the long term. In parallel, the construction of the new maintenance hub is proceeding. Maisons-Alfort Pompadour, just outside Paris, which will provide the capacity needed to support the expansion of the fleet and the launch of new international connections.
The agreement with Hitachi Rail and the related investments in production, maintenance, and infrastructure will also have an impact on employment. According to estimates, they will contribute to creation of approximately 2.000 jobs between France, Italy and the United Kingdom, considering both direct jobs and those generated along the entire industrial supply chain.
What the new high-speed trains will be like
The new trains will be equipped with Wi-Fi up to 10 Gbps, new dining spaces, a refreshed bistro concept and redesigned interiors to improve passenger comfort.
On the environmental front, the fleet will reach a recyclability up to 97,1% and will allow a reduction estimated by approximately 120 thousand tons of CO₂ equivalent for each train compared to the previous generation.
In parallel, Trenitalia France has defined trade agreementswith distribution partners of Certares to expand sales channels and support the growth of business and leisure travel, also in view of future international connections.
Comments
Secondo Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO and General Manager of the FS Group, the order for the new trains represents "a strategic step" because it strengthens the company's presence in France, "a key market for international growth," and supports "increasingly efficient, sustainable, and competitive" high-speed services. The manager also highlighted the new trains and the Maisons-Alfort Pompadour maintenance center as key elements for the future Paris-London connection and the vision of the "European Metro."
For Greg O'Hara, senior managing director and founder of Certares, the partnership confirms the "investment opportunity" linked to the combination of the operational experience of the FS Group and the global travel distribution network.
Joseph Marino, group chief executive officer of Hitachi Rail, underlined that the new trains will guarantee “high standards of sustainability, operational efficiency and cross-border interoperability”, contributing to the development of increasingly integrated European mobility.
