Trenitalia eyes Channel Tunnel route
Another week, another competitor announcement for Eurostar. This time, the Italian state railway Trenitalia has vowed to start running trains between London and Paris by 2029, by teaming up with Evolyn who had already stated their intention to ply the… Read More >
Virgin gets green light to use Temple Mills depot
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR)’s report into the Temple Mills maintenance depot, currently used only by Eurostar, has concluded that there is enough space for other operators to use it as well. The ruling is a victory for… Read More >
Gemini to compete with Eurostar and stop in Kent
A new competitor to Eurostar has been announced: Gemini Trains. Despite its airline looks, Gemini’s website is promising to “Change the face of European travel” by offering an alternative rail service between the UK and Belgium and France, with additional… Read More >
South East MPs speak up for Kent in meeting with Government
MPs Sojan Joseph for Ashford, Polly Billington for East Thanet, Tony Vaughan for Folkestone and Hythe, Lauren Edwards for Rochester and Strood and Helena Dollimore for Rye and Hastings met today with the Minister for Rail, Lord Hendy, to put… Read More >
Eurostar under pressure to drop its prices
Pressure is building on Eurostar to reduce its prices from April 2025, following a drop in HS1 access charges. Eurostar is a heavy user of the high speed track between London St Pancras and Ashford, Kent, and has to pay… Read More >
Virgin heads the race to rival Eurostar
Virgin Group have announced that before March this year, it will finalise an order for new rolling stock to run through the Channel Tunnel. It is evaluating rival suppliers for a dozen trains and when they begin running in 2029,… Read More >
HS1 made to lower its charges, saving money for Eurostar!
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has directed HS1 to reduce its charges to train operators between London and the Channel Tunnel, from April 2025. This should result in savings for freight and passengers of some £5m over and… Read More >
Time is right for competitors to Eurostar says Getlink
Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, expressed optimism about the future of international trains at an All-Party Parliamentary Rail Group (APPRG) at the House of Commons on 19th November. Getlink’s CEO Yann Leriche said there was room to expand… Read More >
30 years of cross-Channel service by Eurostar
This month marks 30 years since Eurostar began operating between London and the continent. The BBC have used this anniversary to remind readers that Eurostar services have still not returned to Ashford and Ebbsfleet, and to highlight our petition which… Read More >
Eurostar to serve Amsterdam from February 2025
Some good news at last. Eurostar, which had threatened to pull out of the London-Amsterdam route because of lack of integration with the Dutch railways, is to run direct trains again from February 2025 according to NL Times. The service… Read More >