Uber reveals plans to join Eurostar rival train line with new routes to Europe
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
UBER has confirmed they will be partnering with a rival train line set to take on Eurostar.
Gemini Trains previously revealed plans to launch 10 trains from the UK to Europe, with routes to Paris and Brussels.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
Uber and Gemini Trains are joining to take on Eurostar with routes to Europe
Credit: Alamy
And today Uber has said they will be branding the cross-channel routes with Gemini.
This means that UK travellers will be able to book a train to Europe via the Uber app.
Brits can already book trains using the Uber app but it will be a first for branded Uber trains to Europe.
Andrew Brem, General Manager, Uber UK says: 'We've seen amazing momentum since we began launching new modes of transport in the UK.
"And this collaboration with Gemini Trains is our latest step in how we're helping people get where they want to go.
"We're excited about the opportunity to bring our brand to the iconic Channel Tunnel journey."
Gemini Trains' first route will be from London Stratford International, not from London St Pancras where the current Eurostar route runs.
It will be the first international route for the UK station.
The train will then go on to call at Ebbsfleet International, before travelling to Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi.
When Gemini will launch trains, as well as how much tickets will cost, is yet to be revealed.
The Hidden Challenges of Being a Female Uber Driver
But with Eurostar currently offering fares from £39, it is likely they will be similar.
And Gemini isn't the only train operator who wants to take on Eurostar.
Virgin has confirmed they want to launch UK-Europe routes, having bought 12 trains.
Costing £500million, the entire project is expected to cost £1billion.
Bck in 2023, Start up operator Evolyn announced plans for trains between London and Paris.
And FS Italiane Group also has plans to launch a new train service between London and Paris by 2029.
Rival train companies were given a welcome boost earlier this year when a report confirmed that the current London Channel Tunnel depot at Temple Mills has space for more storage.
Eurostar, who stores their trains there, claimed there would be little room for rivals.
A Virgin spokesperson said it would "unlock competition on the cross-Channel route for the benefit of all passengers".
They added: "There are no more major hurdles to overcome, and Virgin is ready to take up the challenge, given its award-winning experience in the train industry and track-record for building globally successful travel brands."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Evri try out first robot delivery dogs
He will never bite the postman, chew the corner of letters or leave an unwelcome 'package' on the driveway. Meet Milo, the robotic AI delivery dog who will be assisting Evri, the parcel company, in trials in Yorkshire over the next fortnight. The four-legged assistant has been programmed to hop in and out of the van and deliver packages, lightening the load for couriers. Marcus Hunter, the firm's chief technology officer, said: 'Couriers always have been and always will be the heart of our business. 'In this next stage of innovation, we are thrilled to introduce Milo the robotic delivery dog, and we're excited to see the trial get under way and see what we learn. 'This is a game-changer for last-mile delivery, and we can't wait for customers to see our couriers and their new robotic sidekicks in action.' Robot can navigate safely Milo has been trained using real world data and is also equipped with cameras and laser mapping systems so he can navigate safely around pedestrians, cyclists or wheelie bins. By the time the robots are put into use, they have already encountered millions of scenarios in simulations so they can adapt to real-world situations quickly. Parcels are placed inside the box on Milo's back, and the robot then trots alongside the courier, who removes the delivery once they reach their destination. Milo can also bend down and tip out the parcel. The first trials are taking place in Morley, Leeds. If successful, more of the robots could be brought into use to support deliveries. The robot has been developed by RIVR, a Swiss AI firm. Marko Bjelonic, the chief executive, said: 'This deployment marks a major milestone – not just for RIVR and Evri, but for the future of last-mile delivery in the UK. 'By bringing autonomous doorstep delivery robots into live operations, we're demonstrating how technology can ease the burden on couriers, enhance delivery efficiency, and raise the bar for customer experience.' RIVR is also developing a robot dog with an arm that could eventually work completely autonomously. The company says its ultimate goal is a 'world where robots can navigate sidewalks, open doors, hand off packages and communicate with people as fluidly as human couriers'. It added that the robots would reduce the need for repetitive short-distance walking, which could alleviate driver fatigue and speed up efficiency. Currently, delivery drivers can spend most of their time navigating between nearby drop-offs, but the robots could allow multiple deliveries to be made quickly. Wait function to help disabled customers Evri will also be trialling a miniature AI wheeled truck in Barnsley in September for three months, with residents having the option of signing up for robotic deliveries. The company said the robot would have the added benefit of being able to wait up to 10 minutes for householders to answer the door, which could be particularly useful for customers with disabilities. The robots can also be deployed 24 hours a day, allowing for night-time deliveries for consumers on different schedules, or more on-demand services with designated time slots for consumers. Cllr Robin Franklin, Barnsley council's cabinet spokesman for regeneration and culture, said: 'We're incredibly proud to be hosting the trial run for this programme in Barnsley. This is an amazing piece of innovation that could revolutionise home deliveries and we wish Evri the best of luck with the trial.' Evri is Britain's largest dedicated parcel delivery company, dealing with more than 800 million packages each year.
Reuters
19 minutes ago
- Reuters
Nasdaq tumbles, European shares rise as investors digest Ukraine peace efforts
LONDON/SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Wall Street stocks fell, European equities rose and oil edged down on Tuesday as traders assessed the previous day's White House talks on the war in Ukraine, and looked ahead to a key meeting of central bankers. U.S. President Donald Trump said he hoped Russia's Vladimir Putin would move forward on ending the war in Ukraine but conceded the Kremlin leader may not want to make a deal. On Monday, Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy the United States would help guarantee Ukraine's security in any agreement to end Russia's war there, though the extent of any assistance was not immediately clear. Declines in Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab and other heavyweight artificial intelligence stocks pulled the S&P 500 (.SPX), opens new tab down 0.6% and the Nasdaq (.IXIC), opens new tab down 1.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), opens new tab ended roughly flat after briefly touching an all-time high. Europe's broad STOXX600 index rose 0.7% (.STOXX), opens new tab, outperforming Asian stocks (.MIAPJ0000PUS), opens new tab, which fell slightly. Europe's gains were capped by declines in defence names, with the STOXX Europe Total Market Aerospace & Defense index (.SXPARO), opens new tab down 2.6%, as traders saw the talks as a chance to take profit in the sector after a strong run. With any breakthrough in talks, "I think European stocks are likely the biggest winners, and within that framework, I think industrial companies, construction for rebuilding materials, and financial companies," said Michael Arone, chief investment strategist at State Street Investment Management. Losers could include shares in energy and defence after their recent gains, he said. Energy markets were also assessing the chance of an end of the war in Ukraine, and oil prices fell on speculation that progress in the talks could lead to the lifting of sanctions on Russian crude, boosting supply. The moves were not dramatic though, and some analysts said developments were unlikely to jolt oil and gas markets significantly. Brent crude futures were down 57 cents at 66.06 a barrel, with U.S. crude down 77 cents at $62.65. The other main event for markets this week is the Federal Reserve's August 21-23 Jackson Hole symposium, where Chair Jerome Powell is due to speak on the economic outlook and the U.S. central bank's policy framework. His remarks will be closely watched as the Fed grapples with sticky inflation and signs of slowing growth. Futures markets imply at least two 25 basis point rate cuts this year, reflecting a view that the Fed will not view inflation as a long-term problem. "There's an anxiety about Powell's comments at Jackson Hole," said Ross Mayfield, investment strategist at Baird Private Wealth Management. "Some investors fear the Fed is going to be a bit behind the curve and higher interest rates have a big impact on growth stocks." Trump has been pressuring the Fed to cut rates dramatically, and has publicly speculated about replacing Powell before his term ends next year. "The question is to what degree is the Fed happy to ignore the inflation data because they think it is distorted by tariffs," said Ian Samson, portfolio manager at Fidelity International. "If you look out one year, you're not going to have Powell as Fed chair, there are a couple of governors to replace, so the balance is clearly going towards people who are willing to look through tariffs, and thus continue to lower interest rates." Such a scenario would likely bode well for equities, help shorter-dated government bonds, and weigh on the dollar, though the impact for longer-dated bonds is less clear, said Samson, adding that he was largely avoiding the long end of the U.S. yield curve. The S&P 500 will end 2025 just below current near-record levels, reflecting tempered optimism amid ongoing concerns over the economic impact of Trump's global tariffs and uncertainty surrounding Fed's rate cuts, according to a new Reuters poll. Longer-dated yields have been rising worldwide in recent months. German and British 30-year yields have tested multi-decade highs, and the latter rose sharply late on Monday. Bond markets were calmer on Tuesday. U.S., German and British government bond yields all fell across their respective curves, with the benchmark 10-year Treasury yield down 3 basis points at 4.31%. The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, was last up 0.15% on the day. Gold dipped 0.4% to $3,317.71 an ounce.
BBC News
20 minutes ago
- BBC News
Bayston Hill's 114-homes plan deferred by councillors
A decision on a housing scheme that sparked protests and saw nearly 500 objections lodged has been Homes wants to build 114 homes on land west of Lyth Hill Road in Bayston developer was also seeking outline permission for four serviced self-build plots when its plans were put forward at a Shropshire Council following discussions by members it was decided the plan should not be rejected, but deferred so officers can open discussions with Redrow. A Redrow said the firm was also proposing to build 28 affordable homes as part of the scheme, which equates to nearly a quarter of the total amount – more than was officially said it was also willing to pay £1.6m towards infrastructure a total of 485 objections were lodged, with issues highlighted including the local GP surgery, dental practice and primary school each being either full or over capacity.A number of objectors stood outside the Guildhall in Shrewsbury prior to the council's planning meeting to protest against the proposals did receive the backing of 20 members of the public though, who said the development could help meet local housing needs, provide larger family homes and support economic had also been no objections from technical consultees. This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
