French TGV trains set to enter Italy’s high-speed rail market in 2027

Italy’s high-speed rail market is expected to open to a third major operator in 2027, when the French state railway company SNCF plans to introduce its new generation double-deck TGV trains on several key routes across the country.

The move would end the long-standing duopoly between Trenitalia, part of the Italian state railway group Ferrovie dello Stato, and Italo, the private high-speed operator currently competing on the main Italian corridors.

The project follows a decision by Italy’s competition authority to accept commitments from the national rail infrastructure manager Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), aimed at ensuring fair access to the high-speed network for new operators. The measures are intended to remove barriers to entry and make the market more competitive for passengers.

A new operator on the Italian network

According to the plan presented by SNCF, the company intends to introduce 15 new high-speed trains, capable of carrying significantly more passengers thanks to their double-deck design.

The trains are expected to run primarily on Italy’s busiest high-speed corridors, including routes connecting Turin, Milan, Venice, Rome and Naples. The service could offer up to 13 daily return journeys, with nine running between Turin and Naples and four between Turin and Venice.

SNCF estimates that the new services could carry more than 10 million passengers per year in Italy. The project is also expected to generate broader economic effects, including new jobs and increased competition in ticket prices and service quality.

Capacity concerns in Florence

While the arrival of a third operator is widely seen as a sign of a more open market, transport planners in Tuscany are already raising concerns about capacity on the rail network, particularly around Florence.

The city represents one of the most sensitive points of the Italian high-speed network because the main north–south line currently runs through the existing tracks used by regional and long-distance trains.

Local authorities warn that the network is already close to saturation. The planned arrival of additional high-speed services could therefore increase the risk of delays and operational pressure, especially for regional commuter trains.

The situation is linked to the long-delayed Florence high-speed rail bypass, a project that includes an underground tunnel beneath the city and the construction of the new Foster station, designed by British architect Norman Foster.

A timing gap until 2028

The main challenge lies in the timeline of the infrastructure works. SNCF intends to start operating in September 2027, but Florence’s new underground high-speed station and tunnel are expected to be completed only by the end of 2028.

During that period, rail officials fear that Florence could become a bottleneck on the national network, with more trains competing for the same tracks.

Regional authorities say they are already analysing the potential impact on Tuscany’s rail services, particularly for commuters who rely on regional trains connecting Florence with cities such as Prato, Pistoia, Pisa and Arezzo.

What the change could mean for passengers

For travellers, the entry of a third operator could bring greater competition on Italy’s high-speed network, which has already been transformed over the past decade by the rivalry between Trenitalia and Italo.

Rail analysts say that increased competition typically leads to more frequent services, promotional fares and improved onboard amenities.

However, the success of the expansion may depend heavily on infrastructure capacity — especially in key junctions such as Florence, one of the most complex and heavily used rail hubs in the country.

If the new high-speed tunnel and the Foster station are completed on schedule, they are expected to significantly ease congestion by separating high-speed and regional traffic through the city. Until then, the arrival of new trains could test the limits of an already busy network.

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