London to Milan by train? A new Eurostar rival sets out plans for services from 2029
Since the Covid pandemic, Eurostar has enjoyed extremely strong demand on its rail link between France and the UK. Booking a day ahead, of the 15 departures on the route only four have seats available – with a minimum fare of £235 one way. The easyJet air fare from Luton is over £100 cheaper.
But patient passengers can look forward to competition from Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS). The giant rail organisation says rolling stock inspired by the Frecciarossa ('Red Arrow') express trains in continental Europe will be used.
Stefano Antonio Donnarumma, chief executive of the Italian enterprise, said: 'This investment is a decisive step forward in FS Group's vision of building a more integrated, competitive and sustainable European rail network.
'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'.
The rail link between London and the Channel Tunnel is current operating at only 50 per cent capacity, according to London St Pancras Highspeed, which runs the line.
The firm's chief executive, Robert Sinclair, said: 'We welcome the role that new and existing operators can play in increasing capacity on the high-speed line between London St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel.
'Greater competition will offer more choice for passengers, lower fares, and access to new destinations, all of which support a shift to more sustainable travel.
'Encouraging more people to choose rail over air is one of the most effective ways to cut transport emissions. We are excited about working with all operators that share our ambition to grow the market, attract new passengers, and realise the full environmental and economic potential of high-speed rail.'
FS says it is working with Evolyn, a Spanish start-up, which had previously said it wanted to begin services on the route by 2025.
Sir Richard Branson 's Virgin Group has also expressed an interest in running trains between London and Paris, as has a start-up named Gemini.
But speaking to The Independent last month, well before the news of the Italian connection emerged, Susanne Kries – co-author of Europe by Rail – predicted: 'It will a FS Frecciarossa which first competes with Eurostar."
The FS announcement follows two significant developments in the past 10 days. London St Pancras Highspeed announced discounts on infrastructure charges to operators planning new routes. And a study from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) about Eurostar's Temple Mills maintenance depot in east London – essential for any rival operator – concluded 'some capacity can be made available' at the depot.
A Eurostar spokesperson said the study 'confirms what Eurostar has said all along: the Temple Mills depot is effectively almost full today for major maintenance work and would require investment to meet the growing demands of international rail'.
They added: 'Demand for international rail and sustainable travel is at an all-time high, which is a hugely positive story for European connections and the planet. Eurostar is once again accelerating sustainable growth by aiming to reach 30 million passengers and will invest close to €2bn [£1.72bn] in up to 50 new trains for customers to enjoy.'
FS raised the prospect of longer links from London, including to Milan and Marseille. The latter was a Eurostar route that was dropped in response to both Covid and Brexit.
Mark Smith, the international rail guru known as The Man in Seat 61, said: 'A ready-made network London-Paris-Lyon-Avignon-Aix-Marseille/Turin-Milan is quite exciting, I must admit.'
Eurostar also mothballed two stations in Kent after Brexit: Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International. FS said an evaluation is under way to run trains to and from Ashford.
Italian State Railways has been operating in the UK since 2017. It runs the C2C franchise between London and south Essex, and has a 30 per cent stake in Avanti West Coast.
High-speed rail competition is flourishing in Spain, where the national operator Renfe is in competition against French-owned Ouigo and Iryo, part-owned by FS. The Madrid-Barcelona rail distance, just over 500km/300 miles, is almost identical to London-Paris. But fares for short-notice trips are typically €40 (£34).
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