FR9292 at
Chambéry-Challes-les-Eaux station, April 2022 | |
Overview | |
---|---|
Service type | International high-speed rail |
Status | Partially suspended |
Locale |
|
First service | 18 December 2021 |
Current operator(s) | Trenitalia France |
Website |
trenitalia |
Route | |
Termini |
Paris Gare de Lyon Milano Centrale |
Stops | 5 |
Average journey time | 6 hours 50 minutes |
Service frequency |
|
Line(s) used | |
On-board services | |
Class(es) | Standard, Business, and Executive |
Catering facilities | On-board bar |
Technical | |
Rolling stock | Frecciarossa 1000 |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Electrification |
The MilanâParis Frecciarossa ( Italian: Frecciarossa MilanoâParigi, French: Frecciarossa MilanâParis) is a high-speed passenger railway service running between Milano Centrale and Paris Gare de Lyon, marketed under Trenitalia's Frecciarossa brand.
Inaugurated on 18 December 2021, [1] [2] the service is operated by Trenitalia France, [3] [4] formerly known as Thello, [4] using Frecciarossa 1000 trains. [5] [6] Intermediate stops are Torino Porta Susa, [2] [7] Bardonecchia, [8] Modane, Chambéry-Challes-les-Eaux, and Lyon-Part-Dieu. [2] [7] An additional five trains per day run between Lyon-Perrache and Paris Gare de Lyon, stopping at Lyon-Part-Dieu. [9]
With the introduction of the ParisâMilan Frecciarossa, Trenitalia became the first company to enter France's railway market after SNCF. [7] [10] The full service between Milan and Paris was suspended on 27 August 2023 following a landslide near Modane, and is scheduled to restart in summer 2024. [11] [12] [13] The service between Paris and Lyon remains operational. [9]
Until the COVID-19 pandemic suspended services on 10 March 2020, Thello, Trenitalia France's predecessor, ran an overnight service between Paris and Venice. Thello also operated a daytime service between Milan and Marseille through Genoa, which was officially scrapped alongside the ParisâVenice service on 1 July 2021. [14] Before the MilanâParis Frecciarossa, SNCF, France's state-owned railway company, ran services between Paris and Milan, [5] [15] having first served Milan in 2011. [16]
In September 2019, Trenitalia announced plans for a Frecciarossa service between Paris and Milan, with an expected inauguration in December 2020. [17] [18] Tests to approve the Italian trains to run on the French network were conducted at a railway circuit in Tronville-en-Barrois. [18] [19] On 28 June 2021, [14] an initial fleet of five Frecciarossa 1000 trains were authorised to run on the French railway network. [5] [20]
The MilanâParis Frecciarossa was inaugurated on 18 December 2021, [1] [2] with a morning and afternoon train in each direction. [21] An inaugural ceremony at Milano Centrale greeted the first train arriving from Paris Gare de Lyon, featuring actors with Napoleonic uniforms and can-can dancers. [22] Tickets were sold from 13 December 2021, [21] [23] with fares starting from âŹ29 on weekdays, [21] [24] and an average standard class fare of âŹ51. [25] [26] Seating capacity was initially restricted to 80% by the COVID-19 pandemic. [26]
With the introduction of the ParisâMilan Frecciarossa, Trenitalia became the first company to enter France's railway market after SNCF, [7] [10] made possible by the liberalisation of the European railway network through the European Union's Guideline 91/440. [27] Trenitalia forecasted that it would eventually provide ten services daily, transporting 5,000 passengers. [28]
By February 2022, the services had an average occupancy rate of 83%, [25] [26] reaching peaks of 98% during the Christmas holidays, [26] with 40% of tickets booked in the week preceding each journey. [25] [26] Reflecting on the route's success, Trenitalia advertised one job in Chambéry, four in Lyon, and thirteen in Paris. [27]
On 5 April 2022, [29] [30] Trenitalia France introduced a shortworking service between Lyon-Perrache and Paris Gare de Lyon, with an intermediate stop in Lyon-Part-Dieu. [30] Three trains in each direction per day were initially scheduled, [29] [30] increasing to five trains from 1 June 2022. [31] [32] The Parisâ Lyon route is France's busiest high-speed route, [27] [33] with Trenitalia's services constituting a fifth of trains serving it. [27]
Between 11 April and 8 May 2022, two carriages were painted with Disney themes, with a competition offering passengers the chance to win visits to Disneyland Paris. [34] [35] [36]
By December 2022, a million tickets had been sold on the service, [3] [37] with the average fare dropping from âŹ82 in 2021 to âŹ68 in 2022. 79% of passengers travelled in standard class. Italians constituted 53% of passengers, with 34% from France, 6% from the United Kingdom, and 3% from the United States. The busiest routes were Parisâ Lyon and Parisâ ChambĂ©ry. [38] [39] According to data from Trainline, the competition introduced by Trenitalia reduced average fares along the ParisâMilan route by 8%. [40]
On 27 August 2023, a landslide led approximately 15,000 cubic metres (530,000 cu ft) of rock to fall on the railway tracks and adjoining A43 autoroute between Modane and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. [11] Services were initially intended to resume on 29 August, [41] then in mid-November. [11] [12] In October 2023, the reopening date was revised to summer 2024. [11] [12] [13] From 10 January 2024, SNCF ran a partial service, with a replacement shuttlebus between Oulx and Chambéry. [42]
The service begins at Milano Centrale using 3,000 volts DC. [6] After Milano Rho, it runs along the TurinâMilan high-speed railway, [43] at 25,000 volts AC, [6] to reach its first intermediate stop, Torino Porta Susa. [2] [7] The service then runs along the TurinâModane railway, electrified at 3,000 volts DC. [44] Some trains call at Bardonecchia and, [8] [45] after the international border, all services call at Modane. [2] [7] The train stops for a customs and police control at the international border, which usually takes ten minutes: the schedule allows some flexibility through an extended stop in Lyon. [27]
The service continues along the CulozâModane railway, electrified at 1,500 volts DC, [6] to reach ChambĂ©ry-Challes-les-Eaux. [2] [7] After ChambĂ©ry, the trains run along the single-tracked Saint-AndrĂ©-le-GazâChambĂ©ry railway , which leads to the LyonâMarseille railway , [27] [43] and the final intermediate stop at Lyon-Part-Dieu. [2] [7] Joining the ParisâMarseille railway, the train returns to 25,000 volts AC to reach the terminus at Paris Gare de Lyon. [6]
Compared to the MilanâParis route used by SNCF services, by using the TurinâMilan high-speed railway, [4] [6] rather than the slower TurinâMilan railway, [5] [6] the MilanâParis Frecciarossa saves forty minutes' journey time. On the other hand, the SNCF services call at Lyon-Saint-ExupĂ©ry rather than Part-Dieu, saving twenty minutes' journey time. [43] The SNCF's services terminate at Milano Porta Garibaldi rather than Milano Centrale. [27]
Before the service's suspension, two trains ran in each direction per day, [21] [46] with journey times ranging between 6 hours 42 minutes and 6 hours 57 minutes. [46]
As of March 2024, the service runs five trains in each direction per weekday between Paris Gare-de-Lyon and Lyon-Perrache, with an intermediate stop in Lyon-Part-Dieu. On the weekends, four trains run in each direction per weekday between Paris and Lyon, and an additional service terminating at Chambéry instead of Lyon-Perrache. [9]
The service includes three classes, branded as "comforts": standard, business, and executive. Each train also hosts a Sala Meeting, [1] [28] [47] a bookable meeting room with a capacity for five people. [1] [47] Standard and Business Comfort classes are further divided into Allegro ( transl. lively) and Silenzio ( transl. silence) ambiances. [1] [28] [48]
Each train is equipped with free Wi-Fi and a bar. [1] [49] A bilingual magazine, La Freccia Sans FrontiĂšres, is distributed on board. [50]
The service uses Frecciarossa 1000 trains, [5] [6] built by Hitachi and Bombardier Transportation, [5] [43] each with a capacity of 462 passengers, [27] travelling at 360 kilometres per hour (220 mph). [51] The maximum speed between Turin and Lyon is 155 kilometres per hour (96 mph). [16] The train does not change drivers and engines at the international border. [52]
The service's inauguration was criticised for highlighting Italy's infrastructural inequality, with slower train services in southern Italy. [16] [53]
An on-board menu for business and premium classes was designed by chef and television personality Carlo Cracco. [54] [47] The menu, which costs âŹ18, [55] was criticised for its poor quality, prompting Cracco to defend it in the press. [56]
Trenitalia has complained about France's high track access charges, which reach âŹ39 per train-kilometre in the Parisâ Lyon section. The company received a 37% discount to charges in its first year of operation, decreasing to 16% and 8% in the second and third years. [27]
The initial service was criticised for the lack of a stop in the Susa Valley, in the Italian Alps. [1] [57] Among those campaigning for a stop were Alberto Cirio, the Piedmontese president, and Marco Gabusi, the regional councillor for infrastructure and transport. [1] [58] In February 2022, it was reported that Trenitalia France was considering a stop in Oulx or Bardonecchia, but was concerned by the additional stop time and border controls that operate in the section. [59] From 11 December 2022, [60] [61] one train in each direction per day was scheduled to stop in Bardonecchia for the winter ski season. [8] [45]
On 23 December 2021, a train's arrival in Milan was delayed by 15 minutes after two passengers boarded the train in Torino Porta Susa with a green pass that was not theirs, requiring the police's attendance. [62]
FR9292 at
Chambéry-Challes-les-Eaux station, April 2022 | |
Overview | |
---|---|
Service type | International high-speed rail |
Status | Partially suspended |
Locale |
|
First service | 18 December 2021 |
Current operator(s) | Trenitalia France |
Website |
trenitalia |
Route | |
Termini |
Paris Gare de Lyon Milano Centrale |
Stops | 5 |
Average journey time | 6 hours 50 minutes |
Service frequency |
|
Line(s) used | |
On-board services | |
Class(es) | Standard, Business, and Executive |
Catering facilities | On-board bar |
Technical | |
Rolling stock | Frecciarossa 1000 |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Electrification |
The MilanâParis Frecciarossa ( Italian: Frecciarossa MilanoâParigi, French: Frecciarossa MilanâParis) is a high-speed passenger railway service running between Milano Centrale and Paris Gare de Lyon, marketed under Trenitalia's Frecciarossa brand.
Inaugurated on 18 December 2021, [1] [2] the service is operated by Trenitalia France, [3] [4] formerly known as Thello, [4] using Frecciarossa 1000 trains. [5] [6] Intermediate stops are Torino Porta Susa, [2] [7] Bardonecchia, [8] Modane, Chambéry-Challes-les-Eaux, and Lyon-Part-Dieu. [2] [7] An additional five trains per day run between Lyon-Perrache and Paris Gare de Lyon, stopping at Lyon-Part-Dieu. [9]
With the introduction of the ParisâMilan Frecciarossa, Trenitalia became the first company to enter France's railway market after SNCF. [7] [10] The full service between Milan and Paris was suspended on 27 August 2023 following a landslide near Modane, and is scheduled to restart in summer 2024. [11] [12] [13] The service between Paris and Lyon remains operational. [9]
Until the COVID-19 pandemic suspended services on 10 March 2020, Thello, Trenitalia France's predecessor, ran an overnight service between Paris and Venice. Thello also operated a daytime service between Milan and Marseille through Genoa, which was officially scrapped alongside the ParisâVenice service on 1 July 2021. [14] Before the MilanâParis Frecciarossa, SNCF, France's state-owned railway company, ran services between Paris and Milan, [5] [15] having first served Milan in 2011. [16]
In September 2019, Trenitalia announced plans for a Frecciarossa service between Paris and Milan, with an expected inauguration in December 2020. [17] [18] Tests to approve the Italian trains to run on the French network were conducted at a railway circuit in Tronville-en-Barrois. [18] [19] On 28 June 2021, [14] an initial fleet of five Frecciarossa 1000 trains were authorised to run on the French railway network. [5] [20]
The MilanâParis Frecciarossa was inaugurated on 18 December 2021, [1] [2] with a morning and afternoon train in each direction. [21] An inaugural ceremony at Milano Centrale greeted the first train arriving from Paris Gare de Lyon, featuring actors with Napoleonic uniforms and can-can dancers. [22] Tickets were sold from 13 December 2021, [21] [23] with fares starting from âŹ29 on weekdays, [21] [24] and an average standard class fare of âŹ51. [25] [26] Seating capacity was initially restricted to 80% by the COVID-19 pandemic. [26]
With the introduction of the ParisâMilan Frecciarossa, Trenitalia became the first company to enter France's railway market after SNCF, [7] [10] made possible by the liberalisation of the European railway network through the European Union's Guideline 91/440. [27] Trenitalia forecasted that it would eventually provide ten services daily, transporting 5,000 passengers. [28]
By February 2022, the services had an average occupancy rate of 83%, [25] [26] reaching peaks of 98% during the Christmas holidays, [26] with 40% of tickets booked in the week preceding each journey. [25] [26] Reflecting on the route's success, Trenitalia advertised one job in Chambéry, four in Lyon, and thirteen in Paris. [27]
On 5 April 2022, [29] [30] Trenitalia France introduced a shortworking service between Lyon-Perrache and Paris Gare de Lyon, with an intermediate stop in Lyon-Part-Dieu. [30] Three trains in each direction per day were initially scheduled, [29] [30] increasing to five trains from 1 June 2022. [31] [32] The Parisâ Lyon route is France's busiest high-speed route, [27] [33] with Trenitalia's services constituting a fifth of trains serving it. [27]
Between 11 April and 8 May 2022, two carriages were painted with Disney themes, with a competition offering passengers the chance to win visits to Disneyland Paris. [34] [35] [36]
By December 2022, a million tickets had been sold on the service, [3] [37] with the average fare dropping from âŹ82 in 2021 to âŹ68 in 2022. 79% of passengers travelled in standard class. Italians constituted 53% of passengers, with 34% from France, 6% from the United Kingdom, and 3% from the United States. The busiest routes were Parisâ Lyon and Parisâ ChambĂ©ry. [38] [39] According to data from Trainline, the competition introduced by Trenitalia reduced average fares along the ParisâMilan route by 8%. [40]
On 27 August 2023, a landslide led approximately 15,000 cubic metres (530,000 cu ft) of rock to fall on the railway tracks and adjoining A43 autoroute between Modane and Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. [11] Services were initially intended to resume on 29 August, [41] then in mid-November. [11] [12] In October 2023, the reopening date was revised to summer 2024. [11] [12] [13] From 10 January 2024, SNCF ran a partial service, with a replacement shuttlebus between Oulx and Chambéry. [42]
The service begins at Milano Centrale using 3,000 volts DC. [6] After Milano Rho, it runs along the TurinâMilan high-speed railway, [43] at 25,000 volts AC, [6] to reach its first intermediate stop, Torino Porta Susa. [2] [7] The service then runs along the TurinâModane railway, electrified at 3,000 volts DC. [44] Some trains call at Bardonecchia and, [8] [45] after the international border, all services call at Modane. [2] [7] The train stops for a customs and police control at the international border, which usually takes ten minutes: the schedule allows some flexibility through an extended stop in Lyon. [27]
The service continues along the CulozâModane railway, electrified at 1,500 volts DC, [6] to reach ChambĂ©ry-Challes-les-Eaux. [2] [7] After ChambĂ©ry, the trains run along the single-tracked Saint-AndrĂ©-le-GazâChambĂ©ry railway , which leads to the LyonâMarseille railway , [27] [43] and the final intermediate stop at Lyon-Part-Dieu. [2] [7] Joining the ParisâMarseille railway, the train returns to 25,000 volts AC to reach the terminus at Paris Gare de Lyon. [6]
Compared to the MilanâParis route used by SNCF services, by using the TurinâMilan high-speed railway, [4] [6] rather than the slower TurinâMilan railway, [5] [6] the MilanâParis Frecciarossa saves forty minutes' journey time. On the other hand, the SNCF services call at Lyon-Saint-ExupĂ©ry rather than Part-Dieu, saving twenty minutes' journey time. [43] The SNCF's services terminate at Milano Porta Garibaldi rather than Milano Centrale. [27]
Before the service's suspension, two trains ran in each direction per day, [21] [46] with journey times ranging between 6 hours 42 minutes and 6 hours 57 minutes. [46]
As of March 2024, the service runs five trains in each direction per weekday between Paris Gare-de-Lyon and Lyon-Perrache, with an intermediate stop in Lyon-Part-Dieu. On the weekends, four trains run in each direction per weekday between Paris and Lyon, and an additional service terminating at Chambéry instead of Lyon-Perrache. [9]
The service includes three classes, branded as "comforts": standard, business, and executive. Each train also hosts a Sala Meeting, [1] [28] [47] a bookable meeting room with a capacity for five people. [1] [47] Standard and Business Comfort classes are further divided into Allegro ( transl. lively) and Silenzio ( transl. silence) ambiances. [1] [28] [48]
Each train is equipped with free Wi-Fi and a bar. [1] [49] A bilingual magazine, La Freccia Sans FrontiĂšres, is distributed on board. [50]
The service uses Frecciarossa 1000 trains, [5] [6] built by Hitachi and Bombardier Transportation, [5] [43] each with a capacity of 462 passengers, [27] travelling at 360 kilometres per hour (220 mph). [51] The maximum speed between Turin and Lyon is 155 kilometres per hour (96 mph). [16] The train does not change drivers and engines at the international border. [52]
The service's inauguration was criticised for highlighting Italy's infrastructural inequality, with slower train services in southern Italy. [16] [53]
An on-board menu for business and premium classes was designed by chef and television personality Carlo Cracco. [54] [47] The menu, which costs âŹ18, [55] was criticised for its poor quality, prompting Cracco to defend it in the press. [56]
Trenitalia has complained about France's high track access charges, which reach âŹ39 per train-kilometre in the Parisâ Lyon section. The company received a 37% discount to charges in its first year of operation, decreasing to 16% and 8% in the second and third years. [27]
The initial service was criticised for the lack of a stop in the Susa Valley, in the Italian Alps. [1] [57] Among those campaigning for a stop were Alberto Cirio, the Piedmontese president, and Marco Gabusi, the regional councillor for infrastructure and transport. [1] [58] In February 2022, it was reported that Trenitalia France was considering a stop in Oulx or Bardonecchia, but was concerned by the additional stop time and border controls that operate in the section. [59] From 11 December 2022, [60] [61] one train in each direction per day was scheduled to stop in Bardonecchia for the winter ski season. [8] [45]
On 23 December 2021, a train's arrival in Milan was delayed by 15 minutes after two passengers boarded the train in Torino Porta Susa with a green pass that was not theirs, requiring the police's attendance. [62]