Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 29, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
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Italy's FS partners with Certares to expand high-speed train services in Europe, investing 1 billion euros to enhance Trenitalia France's operations.
ROME, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Italy's state-owned railway Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) has signed a partnership with U.S. investment firm Certares to develop high-speed train services in France and other European countries, the two groups said on Monday.
FS and Certares will set up a joint venture and invest 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion) to expand the operations of FS's Paris-based Trenitalia France unit in France, Britain and other foreign markets, they said.
The partnership is part of a broader strategy by FS to strengthen its international network in coming years.
The accord will help Trenitalia France - which runs high-speed services between Paris and Lyon and Marseilles as well as the Paris–Milan link - consolidate its position as France's second-largest operator.
It will also support the unit as it prepares to operate on the Paris–London route by 2029 and on other cross-border services, the statement said.
The deal will help Trenitalia France's plans to widen its fleet to at least 19 trains, build a new maintenance hub near Paris and increase frequencies on existing routes.
($1 = 0.8493 euros)
(Reporting by Giulia Segreti, editing by Gavin Jones)
A joint venture is a business arrangement where two or more parties agree to pool their resources for a specific project or business activity, sharing profits, losses, and control.
High-speed trains are passenger trains that operate significantly faster than traditional trains, typically exceeding speeds of 250 km/h (155 mph) on dedicated tracks.
Trenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy, providing passenger rail services across the country and internationally, including high-speed train services.
Investment firms manage and invest funds on behalf of clients, providing services such as asset management, financial advisory, and investment strategies to grow wealth.
A maintenance hub is a facility dedicated to the upkeep and repair of vehicles or equipment, ensuring operational efficiency and safety for transportation services.
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