With Paris stronger, the FS returns to the cost on the Frecciarossa within the English Channel | EUROtoday

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The end-of-year alliance between State Railways e You would compete tasks 2026 by Trenitalia in the direction of the France. But behind the settlement between the state firm and the American funding fund, which sees Paris as its fulcrum, there’s a technique that additionally seems to be on the different aspect of the English Channel: carry the Frecciarossa underneath the busiest (and richest) tunnel in Europe between London and Paris. That has been the venture of Stefano Donnarumma, FS primary, for a very long time. Stuck on the English aspect, in favor of their compatriots Virgin Trainsnow the Italians might nonetheless enter the coveted route.

The London-Paris route

Trenitalia entered the United Kingdom in drive manner again in 2019 when it received in opposition to the English billionaire Richard Branson and his Virgin Trains, the tender for the London-Manchester-Glasgow route: it debuted on the finish of that yr with trains Forward West Coast. The route had a double strategic worth: along with entry into the nation, the transfer additionally meant placing a foot sooner or later High Speed ​​railway between London and the north of the nation, with the state venture of HS2 of which Avanti was the “shadow operator” awaiting the development of the tracks, which will probably be prepared round 2030.

Renationalisation

Last yr, the brand new authorities dropped the ax on all 26 totally privatized railway firms within the UK: it renationalised the railways, kicking out (as the varied concessions expire) all the businesses working within the nation. As a counter transfer, Trenitalia UK tried to enter the TAV London-Paristhe one quick route at the moment current within the nation: the Eurostar firm, monopolist of the route for 25 years, should open its practice depots to competitors. However, the British transport authority granted the house, important to function on the route, to the reborn Virgin Trains, preferring it to Trenitalia UK.

The Paris alternative

The exclusion from the English railway depots instantly appeared to have minimize off the FS from the route which, after Covid, recorded a rise in passengers and right this moment the Eurostar trains all the time journey full. But right here comes France to the rescue: the route has two terminus and if London has been excluded, nothing prevents Trenitalia from with the ability to make its Frecciarossa trains journey with Paris as its base the place Trenitalia already enjoys house on the Lyon station and operates the route Milan-Paris.

The settlement with the American investor, specialised in infrastructure, will be capable to present the required capital to lastly carry the Frecciarossa underneath the Channel and from 2029 compete with the ten-year-old Eurostar (which has promised new double-decker trains on the route) and to the brand new entrant Virgin Trains.