Italy to launch high speed Milan-Paris train on December 18

Rome: Italy’s Trenitalia is set to launch a high-speed Frecciarossa train service between Milan and Paris on 18 December, offering a journey time of between six and seven hours.

The new connection will depart from Milano Centrale and arrive in Paris Gare de Lyon, passing through Turin, Lyon Part-Dieu, Chambéry and Modane.

Initially there will be two daily round trips, however the service could expand, with a total of five Frecciarossa 1000s authorised to travel across the Alps.

Trenitalia will become the first foreign company to operate in the French high-speed market, entering into direct competition with the National Railway Company (SNCF).

The move comes after recent EU legislation removed barriers to a single European rail area, harmonising regulations among national passenger-rail systems.

“A legend of Made in Italy is about to arrive in France, and we are working to make what seemed like a dream come true” – the CEO of Trenitalia Luigi Corradi told French media – “The trip in Italy will be at high speed, then we will connect to the French TGV line”.

Trenitalia has already begun to promote the debut of the train “with four classes for all tastes and all comforts”.