FS Group of Italy has formed a strategic partnership with the global investment company Certares to develop international high-speed rail, with an initial focus on operations by Trenitalia France.

The partnership will strengthen FS Group’s international high-speed rail operations, and the initial focus on Trenitalia France will support commercial services, backed by a €1 billion investment plan in France and the UK.

The key objective of the strategic partnership is to create a joint venture, which will invest in Trenitalia France to accelerate its growth and consolidate its presence in France and the UK, and in cross-border operations.

Trenitalia France operates high-speed passenger services in France between Paris and Lyon, and Paris and Marseille; it also operates cross-border services between Paris in France and Milan in Italy. In expanding its network, the company aims to operate services between Paris and London and more cross-border services.

Trenitalia France will use the new investment capital to consolidate its position as the country’s second-largest high-speed rail operator. It plans to expand its fleet to at least 19 trainsets and develop a new maintenance facility near Paris. The introduction of more frequent services on existing routes will creatie hundreds of new jobs.

Expanding international services to the UK will come when the company enters the Paris to London route, which is planned to be in operation by 2029, whilst the company will continue investing in technology, brand, and marketing.

The partnership is expected to have a key role in the use of rail by both corporate and leisure travellers for travel across Europe. Certares’ portfolio companies will support corporate clients in the increasing use of high-speed rail as an alternative to air travel by offering greener, more reliable, and more cost-effective travel. The benefits of rail travel include reliable Wi-Fi connectivity, the ability to work while travelling, and city-centre to city-centre convenience. The partnership is also looking to introduce rail-inclusive itineraries for leisure travellers, where millions of travellers choose rail as their preferred mode of travel.

Certares currently has a strong presence in travel through investments in American Express Global Business Travel, Marietton Développement, Voyageurs du Monde, and Internova Travel Group.

The partnership with Certares will facilitate commercial agreements between Certares portfolio companies and Trenitalia France. It aims to accelerate international growth through collaboration with leading financial and industrial partners, and by supporting the expansion of FS International, which is responsible for FS passenger operations outside Italy.