Trenitalia owner bids to operate London-Paris trains

Trenitalia owner FS Italiane Group has become the latest rail operator to unveil plans to launch services between London and Paris.

The Rome-based company said it could start competing with Eurostar on the lucrative London-Paris route by 2029 as part of a €1 billion investment, with plans to use trains “inspired” by Trenitalia’s existing high-speed Frecciarossa services.

FS Group is the latest rail operator to express interest in operating cross-Channel trains between the UK and the European mainland. Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and start-up Gemini Trains also want to take on Eurostar by running their own international services from London’s St Pancras station.

The move comes just days after the Office of Rail and Road…