The train line linking two exciting European cities in two different countries has reopened after 19 months of closure. The train connecting Paris to Milan resumed service on earlier today (March 31), allowing travellers to go between the two highly-popular European destinations.
The 19-month interruption was brought on by a landslide in the Maurienne Valley in the French Alps. The first train in this resumed service departed from Gare de Lyon in Paris towards Milan at 9.46am. Some 15,000 cubic metres of rocks collapsed onto a railway gallery on October 27, 2023. As a result, it cut off the most travelled rail route between France and Italy. It also caused disruptions to a departmental road and the A43 motorway. The subsequent clearing following the landslide needed lengthy work, meaning the rail line was cut off for well over a year.
These recovery works were extended by several months after unstable zones and new cavities were discovered.
The SNCF Voyageurs journey between Paris and Milan runs three times daily both ways. Meanwhile, Trenitalia can resume its two round trips per day.
Alexandre Gallo, CEO of DB Cargo France and president of the French Rail Association (Afra), said: “This is extremely anticipated. However, it will take until early 2026 to regain the traffic levels we knew before.”
The return of SNCF’s three daily round trips represents a total of 2,000 seats. Tickets can be purchased for journeys from now up until December 2025.
The journey takles seven hours to get from Pairs to Milan and vice versa, stopping in a number of popular spots such as the Alps and Turin in Italy.
Christophe Fanichet, CEO of SNCF Voyageurs, welcomed the news. He said during a press briefing: “We are seeing a European craze for trains.
“Today, we are celebrating a new milestone in our European ambition for SNCF Voyageurs. Today, European traffic represents 22% of our high-speed traffic. We aim to reach 30% by 2030.”
