Finance
Italy high‑speed rail market to open to third player, regulator says
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 6, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 6, 2026
Quick Summary
Italy’s competition authority accepted binding commitments from RFI that clear the way for a third operator in the high‑speed rail sector—allocating at least 18 train slots over 10 years and giving newcomers priority on underused capacity.
Italy high‑speed rail market to open to third player, regulator says
Italy’s Competition Watchdog Accepts Commitments to Open Rail Market
MILAN, March 6 (Reuters) - Italy’s competition watchdog said on Friday it had accepted binding commitments from state-owned railway network company Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI) that would open the country's high-speed rail market to a third operator, thus ending an investigation into alleged abuse of dominance.
Background of the Investigation
- The probe, launched in March 2025, examined whether RFI, a unit of state railways group Ferrovie dello Stato (FS), delayed, and in some cases obstructed, access to the national rail infrastructure, potentially hindering market access for France's SNCF.
Commitments and Market Access
- Under the commitments accepted by the Italian Competition Authority, RFI will assign the new entrant a minimum package of 18 slots on routes linking Turin, Milan, Rome and Venice, for 10 years.
- A transitional framework will also give priority to any new entrants in the allocation of available or underused capacity to support a gradual expansion of services.
Reaction from SNCF Voyages Italia
- SNCF Voyages Italia, which had initially appealed to the authority, welcomed Friday's ruling but said it was not enough to allow it to proceed in full with plans to enter the Italian market in September 2027.
Additional Demands by SNCF
- In particular, it called for additional commitments from the rail network operator on capacity allocation, and more certainty on access to maintenance facilities and train certification procedures.
Current Market Players and Operations
- Italy's high-speed rail market is currently served by state-owned Trenitalia and private operator Italo, in which Swiss-based maritime group MSC and U.S. infrastructure investment fund GIP are leading investors.
- French railway operator SNCF and its TGV high-speed trains have operated on the Milan-Paris route since 2011.
(Reporting by Claudia Cristoferi, additional reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro, editing by Alvise Armellini)
Key Takeaways
- •Italy’s competition watchdog has ended its probe into RFI by accepting commitments to allow a third high‑speed operator access to infrastructure, granting a guaranteed minimum package of 18 slots on key routes for 10 years.
- •A transitional framework will further support new entrants by prioritising them in the allocation of available or under‑used capacity, enhancing market liberalisation.
- •The move opens Italy’s high‑speed network—currently dominated by Trenitalia and Italo—to a potential entrant such as SNCF Voyages Italia, which has long sought domestic access and plans to introduce services from 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions about Italy high‑speed rail market to open to third player, regulator says
1Why is Italy opening its high-speed rail market to a third operator?
Italy’s competition watchdog accepted commitments from Rete Ferroviaria Italiana to open access, following concerns over obstruction of new entrants.
2What commitments did RFI make to the Italian Competition Authority?
RFI will assign the new rail operator at least 18 slots on main high-speed routes for 10 years and prioritize new entrants for available capacity.
3Which routes will the new high-speed rail operator serve?
The third operator will be given slots on high-speed rail routes linking Turin, Milan, Rome, and Venice.
4Who currently operates Italy’s high-speed rail services?
Italy's high-speed rail market is currently served by state-owned Trenitalia and private operator Italo. SNCF also runs services between Milan and Paris.
5Was the new third operator identified by the regulator?
No, the Italian Competition Authority did not name the new third operator entering the high-speed rail market.