Uber has revealed plans to run trains to Europe from Stratford in east London
For a long time, the Eurostar has been the only passenger train ferrying Brits from London, under the Channel and onto the Continent. But not for long.
In recent years cross-Channel ambitions have been revealed by the likes of Deutsche Bahn and Evolyn, while Virgin has announced a new service that will be a direct competitor with the OG London-Paris line, due to launch in 2029.
Now there's been an update for yet another Eurostar competitor. It involves Gemini Trains, which is led by Labour peer Tony Berkeley and was launched back in March. Gemini will be teaming up with Uber to launch a new international train line, that could take Londoners en train to Paris and Brussels from Stratford in the heart of east London.
'Stratford is a bit of a blank canvas,' said Adrian Quine, chief executive of Gemini Trains. 'It's a bit like London City airport as opposed to Heathrow or Gatwick: it's very quick and easy to get through. It's going to be far less crowded, so we think it's a bit of a jewel in the crown.'
When the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (AKA High Speed 1, HS1) was built back in 2007 Stratford International station was fitted out to handle passengers heading across the Channel from London, but it was never used for this purpose. The HS1 Stratford station has only been used by domestic Southeastern trains using the high-speed track to stations in Kent.
Quine said a Stratty to Paris train could be 'as quick, if not quicker' than the service from St Pancras. He said that Londoners could be hopping on in east London and hopping off at Paris Nord or Brussels Midi by 2030.
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The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Will Gemini Trains leave the station any time soon?
Q Do you think the new Gemini services from London to Paris will actually happen? Rebecca H A Gemini Trains is one of several contenders aiming to compete with Eurostar, the incumbent operator from London St Pancras International to Paris, Brussels and the Netherlands. Eurostar has had the lucrative cross-Channel passenger train market to itself since the Channel Tunnel opened in 1994. The start-up plans to purchase 10 new trains for the service and promises 'competitive fares on comfortable, high-quality and frequent train services between the UK and continental Europe'. If it is permitted to launch trains through the Channel Tunnel, services will not start from the terminal at St Pancras – but six miles down the track at Stratford International. Stratford is served by the Elizabeth Line from central London, Heathrow airport and Reading. Two Underground lines – the Central and Jubilee – provide other connections, as does the London Overground, Greater Anglia and the Docklands Light Railway. Regrettably, it is a 10-minute walk from Stratford's main station to the International station, but perhaps some kind of shuttle will be provided. Gemini Trains will also call at Ebbsfleet, the north Kent station mothballed by Eurostar since Covid and Brexit. Gemini's chances of success improved sharply when the transport tech giant Uber said it would go into partnership. Services from Stratford to Paris Nord and Brussels Midi could begin by 2030 – which might look an age away, but in international rail terms is relatively swift. One big concern is stabling for the trains; Temple Mills depot is close to full just with Eurostar trains. As well as Gemini Trains, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Italy's state railway operator FS Italiane Group are hoping to start services from London to Paris. I expect at least one of them to launch – hopefully, all three will do so. The High Speed 1 line and the Channel Tunnel are both running at about half their capacity, and the traveller deserves better. Q You have been writing about fare dodging and the complexity of rail fares. Perhaps a small number of exceptionally quiet off-peak services could be free? That would allow legitimate travel for those who can't afford to travel at convenient times. Peter C A Your idea is well worth an airing. Fresh thinking about public transport is much needed. As a frequent rail passenger across the UK, I always feel despondent when boarding (for example) an early afternoon midweek train and find I am virtually the only passenger in a carriage built for 70 or 80: what a waste of safe, swift capacity. Could it not be used to transport people who are currently not paying? This would provide much-needed mobility, and possibly tempt motorists to switch to the train. Well, I have modelled what might happen if, for example, the 1.18pm Greater Anglia service on a Wednesday from London Liverpool Street to Clacton in Essex was declared free. This is one of many such trains that are almost certain to be lightly loaded. It stops nine times along the way to the resort at the end of the line, including Chelmsford and Colchester. I predict that most passengers who would normally travel around lunchtime on trains to those cities would switch to the free option. In addition, people whose final destination is Ipswich or Norwich would take the opportunity to cut the cost of their journey. They would avail of the free train and pay only for the segment onwards from Colchester. They would change trains and wait for the next express to Suffolk and Norfolk, which would become extremely crowded with people who had the same plan. Moving motorists to trains is a noble ambition, but I must point out that Luxembourg introduced nationwide free travel five years ago, and traffic congestion is still terrible. Perhaps, though, I can finesse your concept by recommending a heavily discounted fare – perhaps £5 compared with a typical price of £20. That is pitched temptingly low for people who currently travel ticketless to conclude fare dodging is not worth the risk – but not quite so cheap that mayhem breaks out on Greater Anglia as existing passengers converge on a bargain train. The train operator will soon come under UK government control – a good moment to test the concept. Q I read your article about easyJet passengers spending 23 hours travelling from Palma to Liverpool. Two things intrigued me: is it normal for a person whose condition causes a diversion to be allowed back on the flight? And will the passengers be due any compensation? Jenny R A An easyJet plane from Mallorca to Merseyside was at 38,000 feet over southwest France shortly after midnight on Wednesday when crew were alerted to a male passenger experiencing a health issue. The pilots decided to divert, turned around and landed half an hour later at Bordeaux airport. Paramedics attended the aircraft. The passenger, who was able to walk off the aircraft, was taken to a local hospital for a check-up. While that was happening, the normal procedure would be for the plane to refuel and continue its journey. But no fuel was available due to the late hour, and the flight could not continue. As a result, everyone was offloaded. Passengers had to spend almost all of the next day in Bordeaux as a new crew was found for the flight. Happily, the gentleman who was unwell on the original flight was also on board after undergoing checks and being passed as fit to fly. So there was no reason for him not to fly home with everyone else (including the original crew, who travelled back as passengers). This is far from normal. In almost all other cases, one or both of the following happens: the medical condition is serious enough to warrant extended medical treatment, or the flight is able to continue once the passenger (and their baggage) have left the aircraft. It is clear that easyJet was dealt a difficult hand, with almost all hotels in the area full. Some passengers had to spend the night – and much of the following day – at the airport. Under air passengers' rights rules, no one is entitled to any cash compensation. Unlike 'delay repay' on the railways, the deciding factor for a payout is whether the airline was at fault. When the pilots divert due to concern for a passenger's health, that is classed as an 'exceptional circumstance' and easyJet is excused from paying compensation. Q We will be visiting our daughter in Australia this November and will spend some time in Adelaide en route. We would also like to visit Kangaroo Island. Is this doable on a day trip or would you recommend a stay on the island? Chris B A Kangaroo Island lies west of Cape Jervis in South Australia, which itself is about 100km (62 miles) southwest of the state capital, Adelaide. It is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Islands in the Northern Territory – and bigger than some sizeable English counties, such as Kent and Cornwall. Yet if you want simply to see some highlights, there are plenty of tours that will take you there for the day. They mostly involve the ferry from Cape Jervis – a 45-minute voyage to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. Three main island attractions are on the western half of the south coast: sea lions frolicking at Seal Bay Conservation Park; the weirdly sculpted Remarkable Rocks on the edge of the Southern Ocean; and the boardwalk descent towards another natural feature, Admirals Arch, at Kangaroo Island's version of Land's End. The other essential: Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, plumb in the middle of the island, where you can see the island's distinctive kangaroos – shorter, stockier and darker than the mainland marsupials. If time and money are not on your side, go for the Sealink one-day trip from Adelaide, costing $227 (£109). While it is a long day – 16 hours – you will get a sense of the island. Ideally, though, make it a longer adventure: three days with a rental car from Adelaide. This will allow you to pause and enjoy the scenery of the Fleurieu Peninsula along the way rather than racing through to Cape Jervis. More importantly, it will give you time to appreciate the island in more depth. In particular, you should sample at least a few hours of the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail. The stretch of this trans-island path running east from the Southern Ocean Lodge is particularly rewarding for both coastal views and inland nature. If you plan to splash out at any time during your Australian trip, and have an industrial-strength credit card, consider staying there for two nights (the minimum stay) – for around £3,500.
North Wales Live
6 hours ago
- North Wales Live
Gtech knocks £70 off 'lightweight' cordless hedge trimmer with 'plenty of power'
Gtech is offering a hefty discount of over 30% on its cordless hedge trimmer that users are saying makes gardening tasks 'effortless'. The Gtech LHT50 Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can now be purchased for £149.99, down from £219.99, by using the discount code BX64. This nifty saving of £70 is available until July 31, making it perfect timing for Brits wanting to spruce up their gardens in time for summer. It allows them to maintain a well-groomed garden without it feeling like hard work, as the cordless LHT50 is touted as Gtech's 'most effortless trimmer'. It's designed for those fed up with battling with cables, heavy equipment and step ladders. It's described as being 'super light' and 'surprisingly powerful', boasting the same motor as the original model but a third lighter at 2.14kg. The tool can reach up to 10ft and has seven adjustable head positions, with a 140 degree rotating blade enabling easier sculpting of every part of a hedge from the top, sides and base. The trimmer features an 'ultra-sharp' 315mm carbon steel blade capable of cutting even thicker hedges up to 14mm, while a safety switch can help prevent any unfortunate accidents. This Gtech hedge trimmer boasts a cable-free design, yet it can operate for up to 60 minutes on a single charge of its detachable battery pack. The handy LED display indicates the remaining power, ensuring you're never left stranded, as reported by the Mirror. The LHT50 trimmer is easily portable around any outdoor space, thanks to the included safety harness. This combined with an ergonomic design provides comfort during use, even for extended periods. For gardeners tackling more extensive hedge work, the new Bosch Advanced Electric Hedge Trimmer, priced at £190 at Argos, can cut thicker branches up to 34mm, although it is not extendable. A more affordable option is the £170.99 Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Cordless Hedge Trimmer; however, the battery and charger are not included and must be purchased separately. The Gtech LHT50 Lightweight Hedge Trimmer has garnered an impressive 4.6-star rating from 838 reviews, with 777 of those being four or five stars. Buyers have praised it as 'easy to use' and 'perfect for any age group'. One satisfied customer commented: "This is truly a lightweight hedge trimmer but with a heavy weight cutting action. I needed a lightweight trimmer to keep my daughter's hedge under control and the last one I used was very good but really hurt my back and arms. We had the hedge reduced in height but I found I still required a longer reach to cut the hedge as the width was still pretty large. This certainly fits the bill." Someone else wrote: "This lightweight hedge trimmer is perfect for any age group or those who have difficulty handling a heavier model. No awkward cables to get in the way or accidentally cut through so it is much safer than one with an electric cable. The battery charges easily and gives plenty of power to cut even a long hedge. Also, as it extends, often no ladder is required." Another user acknowledged some limitations of the cordless hedge trimmer, but overall rated it highly, saying: "Perfect for small jobs for most people. Cannot cut thick stems but does a good job. Very light to use and good battery life." One five-star review highlighted the user-friendliness for older gardeners: "This lightweight hedge trimmer is easy to use and handle. I'm in my 70s and had no problem using it at full stretch." "Fantastic, highly recommend this product especially if your priority is lightness," someone else penned. "I needed a hedge trimmer to replace a very heavy pole trimmer that is light yet could tackle a long holly hedge and a separate Leylandii hedge. This product is brilliant – very light but cut both hedges excellently. It also had a good charge life with two lights showing after one hour of use."
Wales Online
7 hours ago
- Wales Online
Gtech knocks £70 off 'lightweight' cordless hedge trimmer with 'plenty of power'
Gtech knocks £70 off 'lightweight' cordless hedge trimmer with 'plenty of power' Shoppers can save 31% on the adjustable Gtech hedge trimmer with this special discount code Gtech shoppers can get the hedge trimmer for less with a special discount code (Image: Gtech ) Gtech is offering a hefty discount of over 30% on its cordless hedge trimmer that users are saying makes gardening tasks 'effortless'. The Gtech LHT50 Lightweight Hedge Trimmer can now be purchased for £149.99, down from £219.99, by using the discount code BX64. This nifty saving of £70 is available until July 31, making it perfect timing for Brits wanting to spruce up their gardens in time for summer. It allows them to maintain a well-groomed garden without it feeling like hard work, as the cordless LHT50 is touted as Gtech's 'most effortless trimmer'. It's designed for those fed up with battling with cables, heavy equipment and step ladders. It's described as being 'super light' and 'surprisingly powerful', boasting the same motor as the original model but a third lighter at 2.14kg. The tool can reach up to 10ft and has seven adjustable head positions, with a 140 degree rotating blade enabling easier sculpting of every part of a hedge from the top, sides and base. The trimmer features an 'ultra-sharp' 315mm carbon steel blade capable of cutting even thicker hedges up to 14mm, while a safety switch can help prevent any unfortunate accidents. This Gtech hedge trimmer boasts a cable-free design, yet it can operate for up to 60 minutes on a single charge of its detachable battery pack. The handy LED display indicates the remaining power, ensuring you're never left stranded, as reported by the Mirror. Save £70 on the Gtech LHT50 Lightweight Hedge Trimmer £219.99 £149.99 Gtech Buy here Product Description Shoppers can get the Gtech hedge trimmer for less with the discount code BX64. The LHT50 trimmer is easily portable around any outdoor space, thanks to the included safety harness. This combined with an ergonomic design provides comfort during use, even for extended periods. For gardeners tackling more extensive hedge work, the new Bosch Advanced Electric Hedge Trimmer, priced at £190 at Argos, can cut thicker branches up to 34mm, although it is not extendable. A more affordable option is the £170.99 Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Cordless Hedge Trimmer; however, the battery and charger are not included and must be purchased separately. The Gtech LHT50 Lightweight Hedge Trimmer has garnered an impressive 4.6-star rating from 838 reviews, with 777 of those being four or five stars. Buyers have praised it as 'easy to use' and 'perfect for any age group'. The hedge trimmer has seven adjustable head positions (Image: Gtech ) One satisfied customer commented: "This is truly a lightweight hedge trimmer but with a heavy weight cutting action. I needed a lightweight trimmer to keep my daughter's hedge under control and the last one I used was very good but really hurt my back and arms. We had the hedge reduced in height but I found I still required a longer reach to cut the hedge as the width was still pretty large. This certainly fits the bill." Someone else wrote: "This lightweight hedge trimmer is perfect for any age group or those who have difficulty handling a heavier model. No awkward cables to get in the way or accidentally cut through so it is much safer than one with an electric cable. The battery charges easily and gives plenty of power to cut even a long hedge. Also, as it extends, often no ladder is required." Another user acknowledged some limitations of the cordless hedge trimmer, but overall rated it highly, saying: "Perfect for small jobs for most people. Cannot cut thick stems but does a good job. Very light to use and good battery life." One five-star review highlighted the user-friendliness for older gardeners: "This lightweight hedge trimmer is easy to use and handle. I'm in my 70s and had no problem using it at full stretch." Article continues below "Fantastic, highly recommend this product especially if your priority is lightness," someone else penned. "I needed a hedge trimmer to replace a very heavy pole trimmer that is light yet could tackle a long holly hedge and a separate Leylandii hedge. This product is brilliant – very light but cut both hedges excellently. It also had a good charge life with two lights showing after one hour of use." Geared towards those seeking efficiency and ease, the Gtech LHT50 Lightweight Hedge Trimmer is on sale for £149.99 when using the discount code BX64.
