LONDON – As the c2c rail franchise transitions to public ownership under the Department for Transport on Sunday 20 July, formally becoming c2c Railway Limited, Trenitalia reflects on a
meaningful and productive chapter in its UK journey – one marked by sustained investment, operational innovation and a shared commitment to delivering high-quality rail services – while reaffirming its continued role in supporting the long-term development of the UK transport sector and contributing to national and regional economic growth.

While rail industry reform continues to take shape, Trenitalia remains firmly committed to its future in the UK market and to maintaining investment across the broader mobility ecosystem. This includes its recent application to operate high-speed services between London and Paris, forming part of a broader commitment to building a more interconnected and sustainable European rail network.

As part of the FS Group, with more than a century of rail experience across Italy and internationally, Trenitalia’s transition from franchise operator marks not an exit, but a repositioning to strategic partner, ready to contribute its expertise to the vision set out by Great British Railways and its interaction with local bodies while running the railway as a national network. In doing so, Trenitalia continues to foster partnerships with UK-based SMEs, universities and innovation hubs, supporting knowledge exchange and long-term sector resilience.

Since acquiring c2c in 2017, our goal was ambitious: to translate the skills, discipline and customer-focused excellence developed in the highly competitive Italian market for British customers. This has included a significant focus on service quality, technological advancement and long-term value for passengers. Over the past eight years, c2c has supported over 315 million passenger journeys and operated 935,000 services and has been consistently recognised as one of the UK’s most punctual train operators, achieving a 94.5% overall customer satisfaction score in most recent Transport Focus survey period – the highest of any UK train operating company.

A substantial programme of investment underpinned this performance. Highlights include the introduction of 10 new Alstom electric trainsets, representing a £100 million commitment to fleet
modernisation, and the delivery of the UK’s first fully contactless national rail network, now used for over 10,000 daily taps across the c2c route. In parallel, improvements to ticketing with Trenitalia’s fully digital PICO system, replacing multiple outdated legacy UK ticket systems, passenger compensation, and upgrades to station facilities have further contributed to a smoother, more modern customer experience.

Trenitalia’s management of c2c has also played a material role in supporting the wider regional economy and community. Each weekday, over 25,000 commuters rely on c2c services into London,
with independent analysis showing that rail travel contributes approximately £590 million annually to businesses in the East of England. Operational excellence has remained a consistent focus, supported by effective fare compliance measures that recovered £596,000 from evasion in the most recent year.

c2c has also earned multiple independent accreditations recognising its commitment to passenger and staff safety, including certifications in Health & Safety, Safeguarding, Secure Stations and the White Ribbon initiative. Complementing these efforts, working in lockstep with the government through targeted investments such as the Station Improvement Fund and the Customer & Communities Investment Fund (CCIF) has significantly enhanced the passenger experience by upgrading facilities and services across the network’s stations.

Ernesto Sicilia, Managing Director at Trenitalia UK, commented: “Our management of c2c has been grounded in a resolve for continuous improvement and being in tune with the needs of the communities we serve. As the franchise moves to public ownership, we acknowledge both the progress made and the ongoing challenges of unifying a fragmented rail industry. In the meantime, we will continue to support and deliver services on the Avanti West Coast franchise until it too transitions to public ownership in 2026. While our role as operator is ending, our dedication to sharing knowledge, supporting innovation and fostering collaboration remains unchanged. We recognise that building a resilient and integrated rail network takes time and Trenitalia is determined to play a constructive part in that journey.”

As the c2c franchise returns to public hands, Trenitalia extends its sincere appreciation to the teams, passengers and industry partners who have contributed to this journey. This has been a period defined by progress, collaboration and mutual learning – hallmarks of a public service delivered with purpose. Trenitalia takes great pride in the achievements realised during this time and looks forward to contributing to the next chapter of UK rail.

The article As c2c transitions to public ownership, Trenitalia looks ahead to a new chapter in UK rail first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.

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