FS ordered ETR1000s for its growth in France and between Paris and London
posted on 20th Aug 2026 10:08
On 7 August 2026, FS Italiane Group, through Trenitalia France, ordered 19 new Frecciarossa high-speed trains from Hitachi Rail. The investment worth around 2 billion EUR covers the building of the trains and the long-term maintenance and technical support activities.
The new trains will enable Trenitalia France, a subsidiary of FS International, to strengthen its presence on the Paris - Lyon, Paris - Milano and Paris - Marseille routes. FS Group added that this would improve service quality, increasing frequencies and also form the fleet for the future high-speed service between Paris and London, whose launch is confirmed for 2029. On board, passengers can expect next-generation Wi-Fi connectivity of up to 10 gigabits per second, a new bistro concept, an enhanced catering offering, and completely redesigned interiors.
To support operational growth, development of the new maintenance facility at Maisons-Alfort Pompadour, just outside Paris, is also progressing. FS Group stated that the agreement with Hitachi Rail and the related investments in production, maintenance and infrastructure will contribute to the creation of approximately 2,000 jobs across France, Italy and the United Kingdom, both directly and through the entire industrial supply chain.
This is alo an important step towards the completion of the strategic partnership between FS Group and Certares, signed in December 2025. The agreements will be progressively implemented over the coming months and will expand the Company’s distribution capabilities, support growth in both business and leisure travel, and foster the development of future international connections.
Established in 2012, Certares is a global investment firm specializing in the travel and tourism sectors, with more than 7 billion USD of assets under discretionary management, approximately 100 billion USD of gross sales generated by its portfolio companies, and long-standing relationships with key industry operators worldwide.
Gianpiero Strisciuglio, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of FS Italiane Group, said: “This order represents a strategic milestone for FS Group: it strengthens our presence in France, a key market for our international growth, and supports the development of increasingly efficient, sustainable and competitive high-speed services. The new trains and the new Maisons-Alfort Pompadour maintenance hub are also fundamental elements for the launch of the Paris - London connection, a project that is central to our vision of the ‘Metro of Europe’, the integrated high-speed network that will increasingly connect Europe’s major cities.”
Greg O’Hara, Senior Managing Director and Founder of Certares, commented: “The potential of this partnership is exceeding our expectations. We have seen extraordinary interest from investors of all types who want exposure to the European high-speed rail market and are excited to participate alongside us in the sector’s development. It is a powerful validation of the investment opportunity ahead of us: combining FS Group’s operational excellence with our global travel distribution assets to build a world-class international high-speed rail platform.”
