The TGV France-Italy high speed train that connects Paris and Milan will be an official partner of the France Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015, set to run from 1 May to 31 October 2015 under the theme “Feed the Planet, Energy for Life.” On 26 January, Rachel Picard, Director of SNCF Voyages (Travel Division), and Alain Berger, Commissioner of the French Pavilion, signed a partnership agreement onboard a TGV trainset sporting the Expo 2015 livery at Paris Gare de Lyon station. 25 million visitors are expected to attend this major tourist highlight in Europe this year. The TGV France-Italy train will deliver visitors directly to Milan Expo 2015 thanks to an additional stop being added to the high speed Paris-Milan route for the duration of the world fair. Tickets for the event are now on sale.
Specially dedicated terminus and launch of ticket sales
From 1 May to 31 October, all TGV France-Italy high speed trains will stop at Rho Fiera railway station, on the site of the World Expo, with direct metro access to Milan city centre. During this period, an additional return service will run on the main weekends.
Customers can book their tickets in advance and at a competitive price. Tickets are now available for travel until 4 July, as well as from 17 March until the end of August. The TGV France-Italy trainsets are offering a preview of the event through their special liveries. Milan Expo 2015 will feature onboard entertainment and travellers will benefit from promotional offers.
The World Expo, held every five years, will be attended by 147 official participants, including the European Union and the United Nations. The Expo site occupies an area of one million square metres where visitors can learn, taste, think, relax and marvel.
Over 2.1 million passengers have travelled on the France-Italy route in the last three years
Since December 2011, SNCF is the only operator to have run services on the route between France and Italy.
A total of 2 113 000 passengers have taken advantage of this service, 1 500 000 of whom travelled on an international route (as opposed to domestic routes). International traffic increased by 6.6% between 2013 and 2014. These excellent results were achieved through a simple fare structure, with affordable prices starting at 29 euros and with attractive destinations for all markets.
Every day, three direct TGV services are operated between France and Italy, linking 16 destinations in total: Milan, Novara, Vercelli, Turin, Oulx, Bardonecchia, Modane, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Chambéry, Aix-les-Bains, Bourg-en-Bresse, Lyon St-Exupéry, Lyon Part-Dieu, Mâcon and Paris. As well as services between cities, the TGV makes it easier to reach ski resorts, particularly with services combining TGV and shuttle buses, for example from Montgenèvre or in the near future as far as Serre-Chevalier.
Regarding the nationality breakdown of passengers, 50% are from Italy, 28% are from France and 22% are from other countries, giving a strong international identity to the France-Italy high speed train service. The main reasons for travel are tourism and visiting family and friends. The Paris-Milan route is the most popular, with almost 200,000 passengers in 2014 – that is over 36% of international journeys between France and Italy.
(Source: SNCF)
