Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group), also known as Italian State Railways, has reportedly awarded a contract to Hitachi Rail for 19 high-speed trains. This deal, valued at around €2 billion (approximately £1.7 billion), is intended to expand services and introduce a new cross-border route via the Channel Tunnel between Paris and London in 2029.
Gianpiero Strisciuglio, CEO and general manager of FS, stated that the new trains and a maintenance hub are fundamental for the launch of the Paris-London connection. This project is central to their vision of an integrated high-speed network connecting major European cities.
The new trains are reported to offer 'next-generation' internet connectivity of up to 10GB/second, a bistro concept, and comfortable interior design.