Channel Tunnel at Half Capacity Opens Door for New Rail Competitors

The €2bn (£1.7bn) investment will also be used to improve service quality and increase train frequencies on routes from Paris to Lyon, Marseille and Milan. Trenitalia France is not alone in seeking to enter the market. Other operators that have expressed interest include Richard Branson's Virgin Trains, London-based startup Gemini Trains and Spanish startup Evolyn.

To support its operations, plans have been drawn up for a maintenance facility in Maisons-Alfort Pompadour, just outside Paris. This would reduce the need for most trains to be stored at a British depot—a crucial issue for Eurostar rivals—although one train must remain in London overnight for the morning service. Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO of the FS Italiane Group, said: This order represents a strategic step for the FS Group: it strengthens our presence in France, a key market for international growth, and supports the development of increasingly efficient, sustainable, and competitive high-speed services.