Trenitalia orders €2 billion Hitachi train fleet for Paris-London service

Trenitalia France, a subsidiary of the Italian FS Italiane Group, has ordered 19 new high-speed trains from Hitachi Rail in a deal valued at approximately €2 billion. This investment is intended to expand the company's presence in the French market and prepare for a new service connecting Paris and London, scheduled to launch in 2029. This move marks the first major competition for Eurostar on the Channel Tunnel route since its inception in 1994.

Of the 19 new single-deck trains, 10 are designated for the Paris-London connection, while the remaining nine will be used to strengthen and replace existing services on routes including Paris to Lyon, Marseille, and Milan. The new fleet will feature enhanced amenities such as improved Wi-Fi connectivity and updated bistro services.

To support this expansion, Trenitalia is developing a maintenance facility in Maisons-Alfort Pompadour, near Paris. The project is supported by the US-based private investment firm Certares, which has entered into a strategic partnership with the FS Group to facilitate international growth and service development.