Eurostar rivals in talks over Channel services

Discussions could potentially be positive news for Ashford

‘They are very good but suffer from not having competition...’

Eurostar could soon face competition to its services after Channel Tunnel bosses revealed they are in “advanced talks” with rival operators.

Getlink, parent company of Eurotunnel, says it wants other rail operators to launch highspeed services between London and the continent.

And that could, potentially, be good news for Ashford.

Eurostar, which has been the only firm using the passenger-only train service since its launch in 1994, has not stopped any of its services at the stations in Ashford or Ebbsfleet since the pandemic started in March 2020.

The rail firm was hit hard by the Covid crisis and travel restrictions – seeing travel numbers slump by 95% at its peak and putting its future in doubt.

But while services are now returning, it has already ruled out services stopping at either of the Kent stations until 2023.

Now, however, Getlink says it is hoping other companies could come online to provide additional services.

It charges Eurostar a toll for every passenger using the tunnel - and was hit hard in the

pocket by the collapse in trade during the pandemic.

According to reports in French newspaper La Parisien, Getlink is looking at acquiring 10 trains and renting them out to rival operators to Eurostar.

One is said to be Spanish national train operator Renfe.

It was revealed at the end of last year that it was engaged in talks over a possible service through the tunnel and they have since progressed.

If all goes to plan, it could look to start services in 2026.

Jacques Gounon, chief executive of Getlink, is reported to have said: “I will buy them and then rent them [the trains]. This reduces the issue of fixed costs and the technical barrier.

“Eurostar is very good but it suffers from not having competition.”

Last month, a Eurostar train was spotted at Ashford International as part of a training exercise for drivers.

Eurostar trains won’t be stopping at Ashford until 2023; the service was halted in March 2020 when the pandemic hit