Trenitalia, the Italian high-speed rail operator, has announced significant expansions to its services throughout France, particularly targeting new routes to Marseille and Milan. This marks just over three years since Trenitalia commenced operations on French soil, signaling its increasing ambition to capture market share from the established operator, SNCF.
Since launching its 'Frecciarossa' services, Trenitalia has impressively transported nearly three million passengers. According to Marco Caposciutti, president of Trenitalia France, "Our ambition is confirmed. Our objective is to increase the railway market in France, and we have ten years of experience opening markets in Italy." With consistent growth of 40% annually, especially for the Paris-Lyon route, Trenitalia aims to build on this momentum.
Starting on June 15, 2025, Trenitalia will introduce four daily round trips on the Paris-Marseille line. The service will facilitate travel times of approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes, making stops at Lyon Saint-Exupéry, Avignon, and Aix-en-Provence along the way. Caposciutti elaborated, "We will offer four round trips daily, with travel times of 3 hours and 20 minutes." This new route not only promises convenience but also suggests increased competition for travel between these major French cities.
On April 1, 2025, Trenitalia will also restart the Paris-Milan route, which had been suspended for 19 months due to landslides affecting the Maurienne Valley. The reactivated service will feature two daily round trips along with new stops at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and Oulx. Fabrice Toledano, marketing director of Trenitalia France, noted, "The Paris-Milan line will have two daily round trips with new stops introduced." This is aimed at capturing intermediate markets and enhancing overall travel efficiency.
To differentiate its offerings, Trenitalia is committed to implementing user-friendly pricing strategies with various service classes, which include Standard, Business, and Executive accommodations. The approach aims to accommodate different travel preferences, ensuring customer satisfaction. Caposciutti emphasized, "We haven’t reached the profitability threshold yet; we made heavy investments for the launch of services in France, and now we are increasing the offer with double trains for demand." Committed to boosting its visibility, Trenitalia plans to increase its marketing budget by 70% to attract more riders.
Trenitalia’s compelling advantages include flexible ticketing, with all tickets being refundable and exchangeable, as well as enhanced onboard services like meal delivery right to passengers' seats. This strategy not only aims to attract leisure travelers but also appeals to business clients seeking efficiency during their journeys.
Looking forward, the railway operator is anticipating reconstructing its service structure with nine Frecciarossa trains operating across its three major routes: Paris-Lyon, Paris-Marseille, and Paris-Milan. This development will provide enhanced capacity, allowing for double sets of trains to increase passenger seats to up to 914 during peak demand times.
While these expansions signify Trenitalia's growth, competition with SNCF will be fierce. Acknowledging Trenitalia's recent successes and plans, Alain Krakovitch, director of TGV-Intracity at SNCF, stated, "We are preparing." This suggests upcoming adjustments from the national operator, likely involving improved services on existing routes to maintain their competitive edge.
The arrival of Trenitalia on the French market has compounding effects on operational dynamics, with potential fare wars and improved services for travelers. Caposciutti's underlined commitment to doubling the customer base by 2025 underlines Trenitalia's ambitious aspirations within France.
Whether Trenitalia can sustain its growth and profitability amid its expansion remains to be seen, particularly as it navigates the challenges of establishing itself within such a competitive environment. Industry analysts anticipate heightened competition will not only benefit Trenitalia but also compel SNCF to adapt and respond, potentially resulting in broader changes across the French rail network.
With these strategic moves, Trenitalia is not solely intent on survival but has positioned itself strategically to reshape the future of high-speed rail travel between France and Italy, fundamentally altering passenger expectations and travel choices.