The agreement seeks to "accelerate the growth" ofTrenitalia Franceand "consolidate its presence in France, theUnited Kingdomand cross-border markets," the partners said in a statement.

Trenitalia France, a passenger subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), plans to expand its fleet to at least 19 trains, as well as to open a maintenance facility outside Paris and offer increased service capacity on existing routes, including Paris toLyon, from a current nine daily services to 14.

Trenitalia France also intends to compete withEurostaron the latter's Paris-London route by 2029 and is planning to invest 1 billion in its routes in the UK, as well as France.

FS is scaling up its ambitions at a time when high-speed rail services are expanding amid intensified cross-border competition.

Eurostar named Europe's worst rail service while Italy's Trenitalia leads the way

SNCF competition

TheItalianoperator is also considering moving in on the Paris-Brussels route, the group indicated during a presentation of its strategic plan earlier in December.

It has been in direct competition with French staterailnetworkSNCFfor four years, offering services from Paris to Lyon, Marseille, and Milan without these as yet being profitable.

Certares'sactivities focus on travel and tourism, hospitality, business and consumer services, andTrenitalia France also intends to improve its services distribution through agreements with companies within the Certares portfolio including business and leisure travel agencies CWT, Ovation, Egencia, Havas Voyages and Selectour.

In the coming year, Trenitalia France plans to focus on consolidating and retaining customers in France, hoping to boost occupancy rates on its TGV trains, its management said.

(with newswires)

Originally published on RFI