PARIS – FS Group and Certares have signed a strategic partnership agreement to strengthen international high-speed rail operations in Europe, capitalising on EU railway liberalisation and growing demand for rail-based travel and tourism.
Currently operating high-speed services on the Paris–Lyon, Paris–Marseille and
Paris–Milan routes, Trenitalia France has carried more than 4.7 million
passengers and reports high customer satisfaction levels. The company plans to
expand its network further, including entry onto the Paris–London route and
additional cross-border services.
The new investment will support
Trenitalia France’s ambition to consolidate its position as France’s
second-largest high-speed rail operator. Planned initiatives include expanding
the fleet to at least 19 trainsets, developing a new maintenance facility near
Paris, increasing frequencies on existing routes to as many as 28 daily
services on Paris–Lyon, creating hundreds of new jobs, and continuing
investments in technology, brand development and marketing. International
expansion to the UK, including Paris–London services, is targeted for 2029.
Beyond operations, the partnership aims
to accelerate the adoption of high-speed rail among both corporate and leisure
travellers. Trenitalia France intends to collaborate with Certares’ travel
portfolio companies to support corporate clients increasingly shifting from air
to rail, attracted by sustainability benefits, reliability, city-centre
connectivity and onboard productivity features such as Wi-Fi and enhanced
comfort.
On the leisure side, the partners plan
to promote rail-inclusive itineraries, integrate booking and dynamic packaging
tools, and encourage wider use of high-speed rail as a primary transport mode
for European travel.
Certares brings a strong distribution footprint in
France and the UK through investments in major travel management and
distribution groups, including American Express Global Business Travel,
Marietton Développement, Voyageurs du Monde and Internova
Travel Group. As part of the partnership, Certares will
facilitate arm’s-length commercial distribution agreements between Trenitalia
France and relevant portfolio companies.
The agreement aligns with FS Group’s
2025–2029 Strategic Plan, which prioritises international growth through
collaboration with financial and industrial partners. It also supports the
expansion of FS International, the group’s division responsible for passenger
operations outside Italy, which currently generates around €3 billion in net
revenues and employs approximately 12,000 people.
By combining FS Group’s rail expertise with Certares’
global travel distribution capabilities, the partnership aims to position
France, the Paris–London corridor and future markets as reference points for
the next phase of sustainable, high-speed European travel.