FS Italiane Group is strengthening its European high-speed ambitions with an order for 19 new trains from Hitachi Rail, including rolling stock intended to support Trenitalia France’s planned entry into the London–Paris market through the Channel Tunnel.
The agreement represents a significant step in FS Group’s strategy to expand its high-speed operations beyond Italy and establish a stronger presence across the French and international rail markets.
The new fleet will comprise 19 ETR 1000 high-speed trains, part of the Frecciarossa family already used extensively by Trenitalia. The trains are expected to support both Trenitalia France’s expanding domestic network and its proposed cross-Channel services.
London–Paris Service Targeted for 2029
FS Group has been developing plans to launch a competing high-speed rail service between Paris and London from 2029, providing an alternative operator on one of Europe’s most important international passenger rail corridors.
The group formally announced its London–Paris ambitions in April 2025 as part of a wider strategy to strengthen international high-speed rail connectivity.
Trenitalia already has experience operating in the French high-speed market through its Frecciarossa services, and FS Group sees London as a natural extension of its growing European network.
The proposed trains would operate through the Channel Tunnel, connecting the French and British high-speed networks.
Hitachi Rail to Supply ETR 1000 Fleet
The new trains will be supplied by Hitachi Rail and based on the ETR 1000 platform, known commercially through Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa 1000 services.
The train platform has been designed for high-speed international operation and is already deployed on services extending beyond Italy.
For the London–Paris operation, the trains will need to meet the technical, signalling and safety requirements associated with operating across the French network, Channel Tunnel and Britain’s High Speed 1 infrastructure.
The new rolling stock will not be dedicated exclusively to London services. It will also provide additional capacity for Trenitalia France as the operator expands its high-speed presence within France.
New Paris Maintenance Facility Supports Expansion
The fleet investment is being accompanied by significant investment in maintenance infrastructure.
In March 2026, FS Group officially announced that Trenitalia France had signed a 35-year lease with SNCF Réseau for a new high-speed train maintenance facility at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour in the Île-de-France region.
More than €80 million will be invested in the facility, which is scheduled to become operational by the end of 2029.
Crucially, FS Group explicitly stated that the maintenance hub would support its future Frecciarossa Paris–London services through the Channel Tunnel.
This provides important supporting infrastructure for Trenitalia’s international expansion and reduces its reliance on maintenance facilities in the UK.
Growing Competition in Cross-Channel Rail
The planned Trenitalia operation comes as interest in competing with Eurostar on cross-Channel routes continues to grow.
For more than three decades, Eurostar has been the principal international passenger operator connecting London with continental Europe through the Channel Tunnel. However, several prospective operators are now examining opportunities to enter the market.
Trenitalia’s position is particularly significant because it is an established high-speed operator with an existing European network, operational experience in France and a substantial fleet investment programme.
The latest rolling-stock order therefore represents one of the clearest indications yet that FS Group intends to proceed with its London–Paris plans.
Part of a Wider European High-Speed Strategy
The London proposal forms part of FS Group’s broader strategy to expand international high-speed rail.
Trenitalia France currently operates Frecciarossa services in France, including the Paris–Lyon corridor, while international Frecciarossa services connect France and Italy.
FS has previously said it is also evaluating opportunities to extend international services beyond the core London–Paris corridor, potentially connecting additional European destinations. Its April 2025 announcement identified possible future extensions involving Lille, Ashford, Lyon, Marseille and Milan.
The combination of new trains, expanded French operations and dedicated maintenance infrastructure gives FS Group a significantly stronger platform from which to develop those ambitions.
If the required regulatory approvals, infrastructure access and operating arrangements are secured, the arrival of Trenitalia could mark a major change in the competitive landscape for international high-speed rail between Britain and continental Europe.
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