SNCF Voyageurs Unveils Ambitious Plans for Italian Market Expansion

ITALY: The introduction of domestic high-speed rail in Italy is set to boost SNCF Voyageurs’ ambitions to expand its international operations. CEO Christophe Fanichet shared that the company aims to increase its foreign activities from 22% in 2024 to a solid 30% by 2030, coinciding with the revival of services between Paris and Milan.

SNCFS Italian branch, SNCF Voyageurs Italia, has submitted a request to RFI, Italy’s infrastructure manager, for permission to operate three train sets. This plan includes two daily round trips between Paris and Milan—one less than currently offered—since the new TGV M trains will have greater capacity than the older TGV Réseau PLT models. Additionally,there will be four return trips from Torino to Venezia and nine trains connecting Torino with Napoli.

The rollout will occur gradually, aiming for an notable total of ten million seats annually while targeting a market share of around 15%.

the operation is expected to utilize fifteen TGV M trainsets ordered from Alstom. While specific commercial and technical details are still under wraps—including maintenance plans—the goal is for SVI (SNCF Voyageurs italia) to function as an authentically Italian service staffed by local employees.

Aiming for a launch in 2027 presents some challenges ahead. currently, RFI has only allocated about one-third of the capacity requested by SVI through their initial agreement; subsequent agreements cover even less at just fifteen percent.

This situation stems from RFI citing limited capacity and existing grandfather rights as obstacles. In response, Italy’s competition authority AGCM has initiated an investigation into FS Group and RFI over potential anti-competitive practices that might potentially be hindering SNCF Voyageurs Italia’s entry into this lucrative high-speed market.

The AGCM noted on march 21 that access issues related to network entry appear deliberately slowed down or obstructed by RFI’s alleged exclusionary tactics concerning infrastructure capacity allocation.