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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