Calais mayor’s push for channel rail plan

about for many years but has been sidelined by lack of money and political will.

But the Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart signalled a renewed interest in pushing forward the idea on a “charm offensive” to Kent to meet business chiefs and council leaders.

She said the line could provide a commuter service for people living on both sides of the Channel and offer journey times between the two of just 35 minutes.

Draft plans for the scheme were first drawn up in 2008 by the then government-funded investment agency SEEDA and its French counterpart, the Prefecture of the Nord Pas De Calais.

But it has been in limbo since that time, largely because Eurostar has had an effective monopoly on the High Speed line.

That, however, is coming to an end and other operators will be permitted to use the line. It is this that is behind a push to resurrect the scheme.

Ms Bouchart said: “I want to be the politician – supported by the President of my region – to develop this project. We are talking about an economic tool and an economic tool that will allow people to cross the Channel in 35 minutes to go to work everyday at a decent price.”

She added: “We want to attract commuters who could come to France or the UK and maybe buy houses or property. We are not starting from scratch – the infrastructure is already there. The problem we have had is the problem of competition with Eurostar that is the main operator of the service and imposes its prices and tariffs.”

Mme Bouchart outlined the plan during a visit to Ashford’s Holiday Inn in Canterbury Road last Thursday.

The Mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, during her visit to Ashford