news
eUrostar to FaCe several Competitors
by alan salter new ‘open access’ laws came into Day would be disappointed. Schipol Airport and Paris. That
The prime minister has promised force. And although outgoing chief Eurotunnel says that there has project has a two-year start time
to use rail to put the United executive Richard Brown told Rail been lots of interest but so far no and the first trains are now
Kingdom at the ‘heart’ of Europe, Professional in November ‘Don’t firm plans have been agreed. operating on between Amsterdam
rather than the ‘fringes’ – and from hold your breath’ for competitors Brown told the Confederation of and Rotterdam. The full route is
now on it is technically open- to take to the tracks, there has British Industry (CBI) conference expected to open sometime in
house in the Channel Tunnel. been no shortage of interest. in London that he valued the 2010 or 2011.
Eurostar’s monopoly comes to But anyone expecting to catch progress being made under Lord Virgin Atlantic and German
an end on 31 December, when a Eurostar rival on New Year’s Adonis’ leadership in transport. operator Deutsche Bahn are also
‘Let me tell you what we could thought to be working on plans,
ester
ultimately achieve,’ he said. ‘A but a Eurotunnel spokesman
European network of train services declined to list the interested
K
atie Silv
that takes us quickly not just to parties.
Paris and Brussels but quickly to ‘If somebody wants to run a
Cologne and to Amsterdam. And full commercial timetable, that
one that starts not just in London would take a long time to work
but in the north of our country.’ out,’ he said. ‘Fitting in one or two
One of the leaders in the trains a day might be easier, but
race is Air France/KLM, which our timetables are prepared 12
announced plans to start a service months in advance.
by October 2010 some time ago. ‘We have had contacts
KLM is already part of the High from various people since the
Speed Alliance consortium with beginning of last year but that is
Dutch Railways, which won the as far as I can go. One of the main
a eurostar unit
15 year franchise to operate high criteria is having the right rolling
arrives at st pancras.
speed trains between Amsterdam, stock.’
JANUARY 2010 : rail professional 7
RPJan10 pp06-07 News.indd 7 10/12/09 17:19:03
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