Italy's state-run train operator reveals £780m bid to take on Eurostar
FS Italiane said it would join forces with transport group Evolyn to use Italian-made high speed trains on the London to Paris route.
The bid comes after the Office for Rail and Road (ORR), the UK rail regulator, ruled there was room for another operator in addition to Eurostar, the French-controlled monopoly which has run services since 1994.
The joint Evolyn and FS Italiane bid is one of three put forward by challengers hoping to topple Eurostar's longstanding hold on the Channel route. Gemini Trains, chaired by Labour peer Lord Berkeley, and Richard Branson's Virgin Trains are also in the running.
The ORR is expected to decide which operator will be given the green light to access the line. The shake-up stems from a recent ruling by the watchdog that there was additional train storage capacity at the only UK depot to serve the route – opening the door for a rival service.
Eurostar had argued that the depot was full with its own carriages and there would not be enough space.
FS Italiane plans to use trains inspired by its high-speed 'Frecciarossa' service, calling them 'top-of-the-range class, in terms of energy efficiency, comfort and service quality'.
The Italian operator, which which co-owns the UK's Avanti West Coast, also said it was also planning for additional capacity at St Pancras in London and exploring funding options to support the project.
FS Italiane's operation of Avanti West Coast has been beset with problems after it was named the UK's worst train company for delays last year. ORR figures showed that just two in five (41pc) of its trains ran on time.
Evolyn was founded by the wealthy Spanish Cosmen family, who are the largest shareholders in National Express's parent company Mobico. It has promised that its bid will lead to more competitive rates for travel than Eurostar.
Stefano Antonio Donnarumma, the chief executive of FS Italiane, said: 'High-speed rail networks are the backbone of efficient and environmentally friendly mobility, and by expanding our presence on key corridors, we are not just investing in infrastructure and innovation, but also in the future of European transport.
'More competition will help to create a more efficient and customer-oriented industry, offering a real alternative to air travel.'
It comes as Eurostar is facing pressure to return services to Kent after it cut services to Ashford during the pandemic.
Local residents and business owners have argued that the absence of Eurostar has dented the town's economic prospects.
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