The Fréjus rail link between France and Italy will be operational again in March 2025, SNCF Réseau has announced.
This reopening will allow the resumption of high-speed services between Milan and Paris in April, as confirmed by the Italian FS. The Fréjus international line has been closed since August 2023, following the collapse of 10,000 m3 of rock in the Maurienne valley.
Repair work is progressing well. The unstable embankment over the track was secured in November 2024, and night work is currently underway to replace the damaged tracks and restore the railway infrastructure.
Although the reopening is positive news for rail transport between the two countries, the importance of this route will diminish over the next decade.
The construction of the new Lyon-Turin high-speed line, including the Mont d’Ambin base tunnel, will reduce the travel time between Milan and Paris from seven to four hours.
The Lyon-Turin project, estimated at 11.1 billion euros, made significant progress in 2024, including the excavation of a quarter of the planned tunnel and the drilling of three of the four ventilation shafts at Avrieux.