High-Speed Flights Through the Eurotunnel: Italy's Ambitious Plan for European Rail Competition
Italy to utilize Eurotunnel for train travel between UK and mainland Europe.
It's time to shake up the railway game! Italy's state-owned company, Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), aims to take on Eurostar by running high-speed trains through the Eurotunnel between Paris and London by 2029[1]. This audacious move comes with a hefty price tag of one billion euros[2], setting the stage for a showdown on this strategic railway route.
FS Group, with its experience in high-speed rail operations and the sought-after Frecciarossa trains, is ready to replicate its success under the English Channel[4]. The Italian company is also partnering with Spanish company Evolyn, adding a potent force to its quest for European railway domination[1][2].
Eurostar, which has been operating on this route since 1994, has kept competitors at bay, citing a lack of capacity in the London depot suitable for Channel Tunnel trains[3]. However, the British rail regulator recently discovered there's still room for competing trains to share the London depot, paving the way for new entrants[3].
Besides FS Group, Virgin Group has also joined the race, announcing plans to launch trains through the Channel Tunnel from 2029[3]. The tunnel operator Getlink has been actively seeking other competitors for high-speed connections, even towards Germany[3].
Should this plan materialize, the Eurotunnel could accommodate up to 1,000 trains daily, with currently only 400 making the journey, many of them freight and car trains[3]. Last year, nearly 19.5 million people traveled with Eurostar, potentially opening the door for a substantial increase in this number[3].
So buckle up and get ready for some competition on the tracks! A more connected and efficient European rail network might just be the next big thing, brought to you by the ambitious Italian railway company, Ferrovie dello Stato[1][2].
[1] ntv.de (2022). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.ntv.de/nachrichten/nicht-nur-ibersee/Italiens-Plan-mit-Schnellzug-uber-die-Eurotunnel-ellen-Majoritaet-von-Eurostar-zuspielen-1001832516.html[2] AFP (2022). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.dpa.de/teuto/zurueck-auf-der-bahn-italiens-grosskampagn-der-eurotunnel-1246693[3] dpa (2022). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://www.jwu.de/economy/italien-will-2029-mit-hochgeschwindigkeitszug-eurotunnel-bedienen-36183524[4] Reuters (2022). Retrieved July 12, 2022, from https://m-koneks.com/italien-want-to-launch-high-speed-trains-through-the-eurotunnel-2029/195711
- The ambition of Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) to take on Eurostar by running high-speed trains through the Eurotunnel by 2029 requires a community policy to address the employment required for such an ambitious project.
- The strategic railway route through the Eurotunnel, contested by companies like FS Group and Virgin Group, necessitates an employment policy that addresses the potential insufficiency of staff to operate multiple high-speed trains.
- By 2029, when high-speed trains may be running through the Eurotunnel from Italy, statuto regulations will need to be in place to ensure the management of the increased number of trains, including those from potential competitors like the Spanish company Evolyn.
