The Italian rail company that became the first alternative operator on France’s highspeed network has now announced plans to bring its services to the United Kingdom, saying it will run between London and Paris by 2029, as well as taking passengers on to other European destinations such as Lille, Lyon, Marseilles and Milan – routes previously dropped by Eurostar due to Brexit.
And in exciting times for businesses and passengers in the southeast of the UK, the plans could include reinstating stops in Ashford, Kent – another station Eurostar took the opportunity to stop serving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
State operator Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) is known for its iconic Frecciarossa (“Red Arrow”) express trains and says the stock operating in the UK will be inspired by them. The Red Arrows have recently started streaking along the firm’s Alpine route from Paris to Milan again, after a landslide prevented its use for two years.
Eurostar’s competition
If FS trains do come to the UK it will not be the first time the Italian operator has ventured into the British market. It already has a 30% interest in Avanti West Coast services and operates the C2C franchise between London and south Essex. The firm is understood to have reached an agreement with Spain’s Evolyn, another train group that had eyes on London to Europe routes but that has fallen behind in the race. Susanne Kries, co-author of Europe by Rail, recently spoke to The Independent predicting: “It will be a FS Frecciarossa which first competes with Eurostar.”
We have published the report which assessed the capacity at the maintenance and storage depot used by Eurostar.
— ORR (@railandroad) March 31, 2025
Our initial findings say the depot could accommodate more trains intended for services between St. Pancras and continental Europe.
▶️https://t.co/ajRsTFVezD pic.twitter.com/Xlh4Ajr0el
The news follows Virgin’s recent confirmation that there are no more major obstacles to it also entering the UK to Europe game, as well as London St Pancras Highspeed’s (LSPH) offer of major discounts to those launching services on its lines. It all means that Eurostar could soon have serious competition to its current monopoly that only runs at 50% capacity. The firm was criticised in December 2024 by a Transport & Environment (T&E) report that ranked it bottom of the European rail firm pile and noted its tickets were double the bloc’s average price.
Is a new service possible before 2030?
However, Adam Parkinson, founder of the GoLink Advisory Group, also speaking to The Independent has warned passengers not to get too excited. “The Channel Tunnel is a complex piece of railway infrastructure,” he said. “Rolling stock which operates on this route is bespoke to meet strict fire and emergency egress safety regulations.” For those reasons in his estimation: “it is simply not feasible for any new entrant to start operations earlier than 2030s as there is at minimum a five-year lead time for new rolling stock from the point of financing.”
Nonetheless, Stefano Antonio Donnarumma, chief executive of the Italian group, said: “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.”
