The company that operates the Channel Tunnel says it expects to see twice the number of trains and destinations reachable from London within the next few years, including services direct to Germany and Switzerland.
Several operators have filed plans for services, and a couple have even begun the process of buying trains to run services between London and such cities as Frankfurt, Cologne and Geneva. For the past 29 years, Eurostar has been the only operator. The tunnel will celebrate its 30th birthday next year.
Eurotunnel, operator of the tunnel, itself operates the LeShuttle car-carrying operation and trains carrying trucks. Freight trains and Eurostar passenger expresses pay Eurotunnel for the right to run through the tunnel; Eurotunnel collects €20 per passenger on Eurostar trains.
Yann Leriche, chief executive of Eurotunnel’s parent, Getlink, says there is room for the additional trains and that the company has earmarked €50 million to help the new entrants get up and running. It’s targeting routes where trains could be reasonable competition for current short-haul air traffic.
