The FS Italiane Group is a point of reference in the transport sector at an international level, both due it its exceptional skills in the railway sector and the innovative technologies utilised.

The FS Group is operationally active in various European countries, through subsidiaries (or affiliated companies), in particular:

  • in passenger transport with Netinera in Germany, Trenitalia France in France, c2c and First Trenitalia West Coast (with the latter as an affiliate) in the United Kingdom, Hellenic Train in Greece, Qbuzz in the Netherlands and ILSA (an affiliate) in Spain;
  • in freight transport with TX Logistik, which is based in Germany and has its own operating companies also in Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland, with RomRail in Romania and with Mercitalia “outposts” in France.

France

In 2011, Trenitalia France (formerly Thello) became the first alternative railway operator for passenger transport in France, guaranteeing connections with Italy.

Since 2016, it has been 100% controlled by Trenitalia and operated connections between Italy and France, particularly along the Paris-Venice and Marseille-Milan routes until July 2021. 

Since December 2021, Trenitalia France – in partnership with parent company Trenitalia (100%) – has provided daily round-trip services between Paris and Milan via Lione, Chambery, Modane and Turin on its high-speed Frecciarossa trains.

The freight sector is also present through the commercial branch of Mercitalia Logistics and the operational hub of Mercitalia Rail in Modane.

Great Britain

Trenitalia UK, the foreign corporation under specific legislation based in London and 100% controlled by Trenitalia, acquired NXET (National Express Essex Thameside) in 2017.

NXET runs the c2c (City to Coast) franchise for connections between the city of London and Shoeburyness on the east coast in the South Essex region. c2c is the fourth-largest railway operator in Great Britain.

In December 2019 the first train of the Avanti West Coast rail service departed from Euston station (London). The West Coast franchise (2019-2031) between Trenitalia (30%) and FirstGroup (70%) includes services from London to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Chester, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Two hundred and fifty daily connections carry 39 million passengers every year with 76 trains. From 2026, the franchise also includes the introduction of services on the new high-speed line (High Speed 2) London - Birmingham (160 km) which, once completed, will connect about 30 million people.

Germany

The FS Group operates in Germany through two subsidiaries: Netinera Deutschland and TX Logistik.

Acquired by FS in 2011 and now entirely owned by Trenitalia, Netinera Deutschland, is the second-largest Local Public Transport operator in the country, mainly active in regional transport.

TX Logistik is one of the largest German freight railway companies and is controlled by Mercitalia Logistics, the FS Group's freight transport company. In addition to Germany, TX Logistik operates within several European countries.

Greece

Hellenic Train, the main Greek railway company, was acquired by Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane in 2017 and is now fully controlled by Trenitalia. The company operates both passenger and freight transport. The main line on which daily connections are offered is Athens-Thessaloniki.

Holland

In 2017, Busitalia - the FS Group's road transport company - acquired the Dutch company Qbuzz.

Qbuzz is the third-largest local public transport operator in the Netherlands. The company manages metropolitan rail and road services in the areas of Utrecht and Groningen-Drenthe.

Romania

In Romania, Mercitalia is present through the Rom-Rail freight forwarding company.

Spain

In Spain, ILSA has been awarded the Madrid-Barcelona, Madrid-Valencia/Alicante and Madrid-Malaga/Seville high-speed services.

The ILSA consortium, comprised of Trenitalia and Air Nostrum, is amongst the first private operators to enter the Iberian market. The service, which will be conducted through the Frecciarossa 1000 high-speed train, is scheduled to start in 2022 and shall have a duration of ten years.