Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleAmelia NeathTuesday 11 August 2026 12:08 BSTEurostar currently has a monopoly on the Channel Tunnel route (Getty/iStock)Italian state railway operator FS Italiane Group has ordered 19 high-speed trains to launch services between London and Paris by 2029.The £1.7bn investment via subsidiary Trenitalia France aims to challenge Eurostar's decades-long monopoly on the Channel Tunnel route.The Channel Tunnel currently operates at just 50 per cent capacity, offering significant scope for prospective rival operators.A new maintenance hub near Paris will support the planned expansion and reduce operational reliance on British depots.Other rail companies including Virgin Trains, Gemini Trains and Evolyn have also expressed interest in running cross-Channel services.In fullEurostar rival orders 19 high-speed trains for cross-Channel rail servicesMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in