Italian trains to rival TGVs in France - Le Figaro

PARIS, April 23 (Reuters) - French fast-speed trains may compete against Italian rivals on major domestic routes such as Paris-Lyon starting at the end of this year, newspaper Le Figaro said on Thursday.

Starting from December 14, foreign trains will be allowed to run on French rails as long as they service an international route.

Rival train operators had until April 13 to register for time slots with the RFF, the state-owned owner of the French rail network, which told Le Figaro it received an official bid from Italy's Trenitalia.

Italian trains running from Paris to Milan would stop in the French city of Lyon, effectively competing in one of the SNCF's most profitable segments, Le Figaro added. (Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Greg Mahlich)