An additional Channel Tunnel operator

[whole diary]

[Electric train]

The money earner is London - Paris

Mind - the RyanAir model of London (South Greenford) to Paris (Cergy St-Christophe) gets over the St Pancras and Gare du Nord congestion issue

South Greenford? Why not move it a couple of miles and, entering into the realms of absolute, mad, stupid fantasy, to Old Oak Common. . .

Not as daft as it sounds, Old Oak Common box construction has passive provision for a link to HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel) 

[Noggin]

The money earner is London - Paris

Mind - the RyanAir model of London (South Greenford) to Paris (Cergy St-Christophe) gets over the St Pancras and Gare du Nord congestion issue

I'm surprised not to see Flix throw their hat in the ring with a Ebbsfleet <> Aachen shuttle integrated with their bus and rail operations.
 

[grahame]

Not as daft as it sounds, Old Oak Common ...

Had we been in a parallel universe in which there was an ever more integrated Europe, and then with full HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)), it is not beyond scope to imagine a train Edinburgh - Newcastle - York - Leeds - Sheffield - East Midlands - Interchange - Old Oak - Ashford - Lille - Brussels - Koln - Nurnberg - Munchen.    And (stop details to be added) Manchester to Malaga, Bristol to Berlin and Penzance to Palermo.  In the current universe, "not in our generation" I fear.

[rogerpatenall]

The money earner is London - Paris

Mind - the RyanAir model of London (South Greenford) to Paris (Cergy St-Christophe) gets over the St Pancras and Gare du Nord congestion issue

South Greenford? Why not move it a couple of miles and, entering into the realms of absolute, mad, stupid fantasy, to Old Oak Common. . .

Not as daft as it sounds, Old Oak Common box construction has passive provision for a link to HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel) 

My comment was tongue in cheek!

[Noggin]

Not as daft as it sounds, Old Oak Common ...

Had we been in a parallel universe in which there was an ever more integrated Europe, and then with full HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)), it is not beyond scope to imagine a train Edinburgh - Newcastle - York - Leeds - Sheffield - East Midlands - Interchange - Old Oak - Ashford - Lille - Brussels - Koln - Nurnberg - Munchen.    And (stop details to be added) Manchester to Malaga, Bristol to Berlin and Penzance to Palermo.  In the current universe, "not in our generation" I fear.

The general view is that budget airlines killed the prospect for long distance rail from the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) as much as security requirements or the lack of HS^▸ (High Speed (short for HSS^▸ (High Speed Services) High Speed Services)) lines did, but it's an interesting exercise to think what might have been if the Channel Tunnel was completed in the 1970s (Nez Cassé to London anyone?) or even the 1900s.

[stuving]

More positive comments from Getlink and HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel), via The Independent:

Trains will run from London to Cologne, Frankfurt and Geneva by 2030, vows Eurotunnel

‘Space will be found at St Pancras for new entrants,’ says Channel Tunnel chief
Simon Calder           Travel Correspondent

Cologne, Frankfurt and Geneva should appear on the train departure screens from London by 2030, the boss of Eurotunnel has vowed.

Yann Leriche, chief executive of the tunnel firm’s parent, Getlink, says he expects new entrants to start competing with Eurostar – and to double the number of direct rail routes from the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

Eurotunnel is the infrastructure operator between Folkestone and Calais. It currently runs the LeShuttle car-carrying operation as well as trains carrying trucks. Freight trains and Eurostar passenger expresses pay for the right to run through the tunnel. Eurotunnel collects €20 (£17) for each passenger on Eurostar trains.

The Channel Tunnel opened to passenger trains in November 1994. In the 29 years since then, Eurostar has had the market to itself. It currently runs from London St Pancras International to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

But at an event ahead of the 30th anniversary of Eurotunnel, Mr Leriche said the tunnel has capacity for more operators – and that new rail links would grow “low-carbon mobility between the UK and Continental Europe”...

The international departure terminal at London St Pancras is already at full capacity, with Eurostar obliged to cap the number of passengers on some peak services.

But Mr Leriche told The Independent: “We are working with our peers, and HS1 in particular. I will not speak on their behalf, but the space will be found at St Pancras for new entrants.

“There is space, there is potential, we are working and discussing that with them very closely.”

A spokesperson for HS1 Ltd, which operates London St Pancras, said: “Increasing services would unlock significant economic and environmental benefits.

“We can increase capacity at St Pancras and planning is underway to deliver this at the right time. Technology is one of the answers and evolving how we operate is another. We’re already trailing new innovative technology to help increase capacity while ensuring a smooth passenger experience...

[ChrisB]

More positive comments from Getlink and HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel), via The Independent:

Trains will run from London to Cologne, Frankfurt and Geneva by 2030, vows Eurotunnel

‘Space will be found at St Pancras for new entrants,’ says Channel Tunnel chief
Simon Calder           Travel Correspondent
Eurotunnel collects €20 (£17) for each passenger on Eurostar trains.

Amazing value then, when E* issues their £39 special offers....a basic fare of just £19 plus tunnel charge.

[stuving]

More positive comments from Getlink and HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel), via The Independent:

Trains will run from London to Cologne, Frankfurt and Geneva by 2030, vows Eurotunnel

‘Space will be found at St Pancras for new entrants,’ says Channel Tunnel chief
Simon Calder           Travel Correspondent
Eurotunnel collects €20 (£17) for each passenger on Eurostar trains.

Amazing value then, when E* issues their £39 special offers....a basic fare of just £19 plus tunnel charge.

If you fancy joining in by running a few international trains of your own Getlink do publish full details of their charges - complete with complicated indexation.

[TaplowGreen]

More positive comments from Getlink and HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel), via The Independent:

Trains will run from London to Cologne, Frankfurt and Geneva by 2030, vows Eurotunnel

‘Space will be found at St Pancras for new entrants,’ says Channel Tunnel chief
Simon Calder           Travel Correspondent
Eurotunnel collects €20 (£17) for each passenger on Eurostar trains.

Amazing value then, when E* issues their £39 special offers....a basic fare of just £19 plus tunnel charge.

Whoops!

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/eurostar-reprimanded-by-watchdog-over-39-fare-promotion/ar-AA1moY5Y