Renfe Proyectos Internacionales, a subsidiary of Spain’s national railway operator Renfe, has acquired a 33% stake in Longitude Holding, an Italian private company operating under the Arenaways brand.
This strategic partnership marks Renfe’s entry into the Italian market, with initial plans focusing on regional passenger services in Piedmont.
Longitude Holding was established in Turin in 2021 and holds the required licences to operate both regional and long-distance services in Italy.
Renfe’s investment in the company is mirrored by Serena Industrial Partners, a Spanish investment manager specialising in infrastructure and mobility projects. Serena also holds a 33% stake in Longitude. Together, these entities will support Longitude’s operations and expansion under the Arenaways brand.
“For Renfe, this operation means that we have new European partners, expanding into a new market of recognised prestige in the railway sector as is the case of Italy and at the same time, harnessing our experience as an expert operator to support an exciting project that contributes to more sustainable and connected mobility throughout Europe.”
Notably, Longitude has secured a 10-year contract with the Piedmont Mobility Agency to operate two regional routes:
- Cuneo – Saluzzo – Savigliano. Service on this route will begin in January 2025.
- Ceva – Ormea. Operations will commence following infrastructure upgrades by RFI (Italian Railway Network).
These contracts are valued at 54 million EUR and represent the first steps in Longitude’s strategy to expand its services across Italy.
Following these initial rollouts, Longitude has plans to extend its operations to additional public and commercial routes. It has received authorisation from the Italian Transport Regulatory Authority to launch long-distance open-access connections on key corridors, including the Northwest-Northeast and North-Central-South routes.
“The experience, international know-how and strength of the companies behind Arenaways will help us to achieve all our goals by constantly improving the quality of our products and services.
“We have been defined as 'the third national operator'; however, we do not consider competition as opposition: competition offers huge benefits for users and for the entire community, as it immediately translates into more choice, better services and diversity. We would like to firmly reiterate what we have always believed: train travel will play a key role in the mobility of the future.”
The partnership with Longitude aligns with Renfe’s broader strategy to expand its operations across Europe.
Notable developments include:
- France: Renfe operates AVE high-speed services on routes to Lyon and Marseille, with a Toulouse route planned for next year.
- Central Europe: Renfe holds a 50% stake in Leo Express, providing services in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland.
- Baltic States: Renfe serves as a consultant and shadow operator for the Rail Baltica project, connecting Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
