Italian Railways has announced that it intends to launch high speed services between London and Paris by 2029.

FS Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Spanish company Evolyn, which has also been named as a potential international operator from London.

The project is being supported by an investment of 1 million Euros, and follows an announcement by the Office of Rail and Road that there is some capacity for new operators at Temple Mills depot in east London, which has been used only by Eurostar since it opened in 2007.

The initial route is London and Paris, but FS said its services could be extended later to Lille, Lyon, Marseilles and Milan as part of wider ambitions to run more trains in Europe. It has also raised hopes in Kent by mentioning Ashford as a possible calling point.

The rolling stock would be ‘inspired’ by Frecciarossa train sets.

FS Group chief executive officer and general manager Stefano Antonio Donnarumma 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.’

FS Group currently runs c2c and has a 30 per cent stake in Avanti West Coast, although both these contracts are due to be renationalised.

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