TGV Artesia was a service branding and joint venture between France and Italy from 1995 to 2011. [1]
Trains were staffed by Trenitalia in Italy and SNCF in France. The bar/restaurant service was operated by Cremonini company. Between 2007 and 2011, routes include service between Paris Gare de Lyon and Paris-Bercy to Turin, Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, and intermediate cities. Service to Milan operated via both Dijon (Vallorbe-Simplon line) and Lyon/Turin, while Venice, Florence, and Rome were only served through Dijon. Trains traveling through Dijon were night trains; those traveling through Lyon and Turin were day trains.
Artesia stopped operating on 14 November 2011 since SNCF took a 20% stake in Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori, which is Trenitalia's main competitor. Trenitalia then continues to operate night service with Transdev in a new joint venture called Thello ; and SNCF continues to operate day TGV between Paris, Turin and Milan.
Artesia's regular services included the historic daily Paris to Rome service, the Palatino Express . This train, whose history may be traced back to 1890, ceased one month after the closure of Artesia in December 2011.
