SPECIAL FOCUS:
Welcome
Talgo UK plans, Eurostar’s 25 years
Having published a Worldwide supplement at almost exactly the same time last year, it seems incredible that the UK’s international affairs are still being dominated by the looming prospect of Brexit.
Twelve months ago, the Government’s policy was to withdraw from the European Union by March 31 2019. The subsequent failure by Parliament to ratify a Withdrawal Agreement means that the deadline has now been extended until January 31 2020.
Whether the UK leaves by this new date remains to be seen, and will largely depend upon the result of the General Election on December 12.
A range of options is now seemingly available to the electorate, with the major parties all making competing promises to leave, stay, or to offer a second referendum.
Should Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Conservative party be re-elected to form a government, we are told that the UK will leave on January 31 and that a transition period will apply until the end of 2020, to enable a new trade agreement to be negotiated.
EU rules on free movement of goods, services and people will continue to apply, while discussions take place for a new deal that keeps trade as frictionless as possible.
Playing a key physical part in the UK’s historical, current and future relationship with continental Europe is Eurostar which, having been launched in November 1994, remains Britain’s only international train operating company.
In this nine-page special, Richard Clinnick looks back at the 25-year story of the train operator and offers a glimpse at what its next chapter might look like.
Elsewhere, the continued strength of the UK rail market in attracting foreign companies and investment is demonstrated by Talgo’s plans to build a new factory at Longannet in Scotland, and a UK headquarters in Chesterfield.
SYSTRA also tells RAIL how it has expanded its UK footprint via its project delivery partnership with Crossrail, and how its leading role in the Grand Paris Express mega-project could be put to use elsewhere.