Latest news with #OfficeofRoadandRail
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fare-dodging has become normalised, say rail staff
Credit: X/@RobertJenrick Fare-dodging has become normalised and is viewed as a 'victimless crime', rail staff have said. A report by the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) found rail staff were struggling to cope with growing levels of intentional fare-dodging. While the report was commissioned to examine concerns that some passengers had been unfairly pursued by train companies over genuine mistakes when buying tickets, it said: 'Rail staff we spoke to described how fare evasion is becoming normalised among certain passenger groups and increasingly more challenging to tackle.' The report added: 'As well as occasional opportunistic fare evaders, there are some individuals who use a range of techniques to persistently underpay and avoid their fares.' Staff reported being met with 'aggressive and abusive behaviour' when trying to check the tickets of fare-dodgers. The report added: 'Some fare evaders consider that it is a victimless crime and are either not aware of or are undeterred by the consequences of being caught.' Fare-dodging costs the industry hundreds of millions of pounds each year, which can lead to higher ticket prices. The findings come after Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, visited Stratford Station in east London to personally confront fare-dodgers last week. Writing in The Telegraph, the Conservative MP said: 'I watched as people flooded through an empty barrier, while the enforcement officer was on his backside, feet up, watching on. It was a perfect encapsulation of broken Britain. 'For ordinary hard-working citizens travelling into work on their morning commute, the sight of somebody slipping through the barriers without paying is a slap in the face.' Speaking last night, Mr Jenrick said: 'Fare-dodging is out of control right now. It's not just a problem in London, it's happening right across the country. 'Unless the authorities crack down on lesser offences, lawbreaking will spiral further out of control.' While the ORR report detailed the industry's struggles to tackle deliberate fare evasion, the report was in fact commissioned to examine cases where train companies over-zealously prosecuted passengers who had accidentally bought the wrong ticket. The regulator called for more consistency in dealing with honest mistakes. Stephanie Tobyn, the ORR's director of strategy, said rules were 'weighted towards industry' when dealing with passengers who had made a genuine error. It said ticket-buying should be simpler and have clear routes and time restrictions, while companies should focus on intentional criminal evasion. Prosecutions should only proceed in the public interest and should be decided consistently across train companies, the report added. A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train companies, said: 'We need to strike the right balance addressing genuine, honest mistakes made by customers and taking firm action against those who deliberately and persistently seek to exploit the system.' Lord Hendy, the rail minister, said: 'Deliberate fare-dodging costs the taxpayer up to £400m annually – money which could be better spent on improving passenger experience – and must be dealt with, but ham-fisted prosecutions that punish people who have made an innocent mistake is not the way to do this. 'We will look at this report in detail and set out what we'll be doing to address the issues raised in due course.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Eurostar rivals given ‘green signal' for cross-Channel trains: What could it mean for passengers?
For nearly three decades, Eurostar has been the only rail operator running through the Channel Tunnel, connecting the UK with mainland Europe. But recent shifts in regulation and burgeoning demand for lower-carbon travel options have boosted interest from competitors. Companies from the UK and Europe are eagerly eyeing a share of the market, but starting services hasn't been easy. Expensive trains, limited space for them to be serviced, maintained, and stored, and Eurostar's dominance have conspired to maintain the monopoly. But things are starting to change. A new report commissioned by the Office of Road and Rail has ruled that Eurostar must provide access to new operators at Temple Mills depot. It also demanded that HS1, the high-speed rail link between London and the Tunnel, reduce its fees from almost €30 per mile. Currently these are the highest fees in Europe. As each barrier comes down, excitement for new cross-Channel options rises. Several companies are confident their bids will be a success and claim that increased competition will ultimately mean lower prices for passengers. While the Channel Tunnel has been open to competitors since 2010, no other operator has attempted to challenge Eurostars' dominance. But recent regulatory shifts and legal challenges have seen interest accelerate, with several companies vying to provide new services. The Virgin Group is one such company and has stated a desire to launch cross-channel train services by 2029. Discussions are already underway for a fleet of trains to operate the service. Competing for access to the 'Chunnel' is a Spanish-led consortium known as Evolyn. The company wants to launch high-speed services between London and Paris and has indicated it has reached an agreement with Alstom to purchase 12 high-speed trains for the service. Also throwing its hat in the ring is a start-up called Gemini Trains. led by Lord Tony Berkeley, a British aristocrat and former Eurotunnel engineer. Gemini has applied for an operator's license to service Paris, Strasbourg, Cologne, and Geneva with a fleet of 10 trains by 2029. Other operators have previously expressed an interest in open access to the Channel Tunnel. Deutsche Bahn showcased a high-speed train at London's St Pancras in 2010, signaling its intent to connect London with destinations in Germany, such as Frankfurt and Cologne. However, it has not yet officially joined the bidding war for services. Related Eurotunnel operator offers cash to attract new cross-channel services Irony of history: How Channel Tunnel breakthrough miner Graham Fagg became a Brexiteer New destinations and cheaper tickets: How Channel Tunnel rail travel might change in the future Since the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994, Eurostar has held a monopoly on rail services between the UK and Europe. Although there's been nothing stopping new operators from venturing into the market, barriers to entry have been high. For a start, trains must be long enough to align with tunnel evacuation points, and there are various technical requirements that not many manufacturers can meet. The cost of acquiring new trains that comply with these requirements, estimated at €35 - €60 million per train, has deterred competitors from getting involved. In order to operate a cross-channel service, operators also need a depot. London's St Pancras International and the Temple Mills maintenance depot are under Eurostar's control, and it has frequently argued that Temple Mills is already at capacity. However, a new report, commissioned by the UK's Office of Road and Rail (ORR) and conducted by independent consultants IPEX, suggests this is not necessarily true. In its report, IPEX stated that there is 'some' capacity at Temple Mills for more trains to be serviced, maintained, and stored. It says that some of the capacity can be accessed immediately, without any changes, but that the rest will be delivered through investment. Virgin Group applauded the findings of the report, saying that claims suggesting Temple Mills was at capacity have been blocking Virgin's bid for cross-Channel services. 'Finally a green signal for competition,' a spokesperson for Virgin says. 'There are no more major hurdles to overcome, and Virgin is ready to take up the challenge.' However, Eurostar argues that the report effectively validates its claim that the depot is at capacity. A spokesperson said, 'It confirms what Eurostar has said all along: the Temple Mills depot is effectively almost full today for major maintenance work and would require investment to meet the growing demands of international rail.' Eurostar notes that the options in the report could create some capacity, but this would not be enough to accommodate any single additional operator. Related Combined air-rail tickets: How to fly, ride and explore Europe on one booking Eurostar and SkyTeam join up to offer plane to train journeys in a single booking from 2025 The European tube: Inside the project to launch a continent-wide rail system Increased competition on the Eurotunnel services is widely considered to bring benefits to passengers. In any market, more competition tends to lead to lower prices, better services and more choice, and the cross-Channel rail market is no different. Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink (the company that operates the Channel Tunnel), told the BBC that through competition, 'the market will be more dynamic, all operators will improve their offer.' 'I love Eurostar's service, but competition keeps everyone on their toes,' says Mark Smith, also known as the Man in Seat 61. 'The extra capacity this will bring has been shown to lower prices. It's definitely good news for travellers.' While prices for Eurotunnel service may fall as competition hots up, having more choice is crucial to the attractiveness of rail options. Being able to travel directly to London from cities in Germany, Switzerland and beyond is a good first step in making rail a workable alternative to air travel and encouraging passengers to switcht to this lower carbon form of transportation. Smith further notes that there could be more connections in the UK too, as Gemini Trains has touted services from Ebbsfleet in Kent. 'Eurostar doesn't want to do that,' he says. 'Let's also hope competitors will consider easier bike access and allowing dogs.'
Euronews
02-04-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Eurostar rivals given ‘green signal' for cross-Channel trains: What could it mean for passengers?
ADVERTISEMENT For nearly three decades, Eurostar has been the only rail operator running through the Channel Tunnel, connecting the UK with mainland Europe. But recent shifts in regulation and burgeoning demand for lower-carbon travel options have boosted interest from competitors. Companies from the UK and Europe are eagerly eyeing a share of the market, but starting services hasn't been easy. Expensive trains, limited space for them to be serviced, maintained, and stored, and Eurostar's dominance have conspired to maintain the monopoly. But things are starting to change. A new report commissioned by the Office of Road and Rail has ruled that Eurostar must provide access to new operators at Temple Mills depot. It also demanded that HS1, the high-speed rail link between London and the Tunnel, reduce its fees from almost €30 per mile. Currently these are the highest fees in Europe. As each barrier comes down, excitement for new cross-Channel options rises. Several companies are confident their bids will be a success and claim that increased competition will ultimately mean lower prices for passengers. Which rail operators want to run Channel Tunnel services? While the Channel Tunnel has been open to competitors since 2010, no other operator has attempted to challenge Eurostars' dominance. But recent regulatory shifts and legal challenges have seen interest accelerate, with several companies vying to provide new services. The Virgin Group is one such company and has stated a desire to launch cross-channel train services by 2029. Discussions are already underway for a fleet of trains to operate the service. Competing for access to the 'Chunnel' is a Spanish-led consortium known as Evolyn. The company wants to launch high-speed services between London and Paris and has indicated it has reached an agreement with Alstom to purchase 12 high-speed trains for the service. Also throwing its hat in the ring is a start-up called Gemini Trains. led by Lord Tony Berkeley, a British aristocrat and former Eurotunnel engineer. Gemini has applied for an operator's license to service Paris, Strasbourg, Cologne, and Geneva with a fleet of 10 trains by 2029. Other operators have previously expressed an interest in open access to the Channel Tunnel. Deutsche Bahn showcased a high-speed train at London's St Pancras in 2010, signaling its intent to connect London with destinations in Germany, such as Frankfurt and Cologne. However, it has not yet officially joined the bidding war for services. Related Eurotunnel operator offers cash to attract new cross-channel services Irony of history: How Channel Tunnel breakthrough miner Graham Fagg became a Brexiteer New destinations and cheaper tickets: How Channel Tunnel rail travel might change in the future New report brings Eurostar competition closer Since the opening of the Channel Tunnel in 1994, Eurostar has held a monopoly on rail services between the UK and Europe. Although there's been nothing stopping new operators from venturing into the market, barriers to entry have been high. For a start, trains must be long enough to align with tunnel evacuation points, and there are various technical requirements that not many manufacturers can meet. The cost of acquiring new trains that comply with these requirements, estimated at €35 - €60 million per train, has deterred competitors from getting involved. In order to operate a cross-channel service, operators also need a depot. London's St Pancras International and the Temple Mills maintenance depot are under Eurostar's control, and it has frequently argued that Temple Mills is already at capacity. However, a new report, commissioned by the UK's Office of Road and Rail (ORR) and conducted by independent consultants IPEX, suggests this is not necessarily true. In its report, IPEX stated that there is 'some' capacity at Temple Mills for more trains to be serviced, maintained, and stored. It says that some of the capacity can be accessed immediately, without any changes, but that the rest will be delivered through investment. Virgin Group applauded the findings of the report, saying that claims suggesting Temple Mills was at capacity have been blocking Virgin's bid for cross-Channel services. 'Finally a green signal for competition,' a spokesperson for Virgin says. 'There are no more major hurdles to overcome, and Virgin is ready to take up the challenge.' ADVERTISEMENT However, Eurostar argues that the report effectively validates its claim that the depot is at capacity. A spokesperson said, 'It confirms what Eurostar has said all along: the Temple Mills depot is effectively almost full today for major maintenance work and would require investment to meet the growing demands of international rail.' Eurostar notes that the options in the report could create some capacity, but this would not be enough to accommodate any single additional operator. Related Combined air-rail tickets: How to fly, ride and explore Europe on one booking Eurostar and SkyTeam join up to offer plane to train journeys in a single booking from 2025 The European tube: Inside the project to launch a continent-wide rail system Will new options be good for cross-Channel passengers? Increased competition on the Eurotunnel services is widely considered to bring benefits to passengers. In any market, more competition tends to lead to lower prices, better services and more choice, and the cross-Channel rail market is no different. Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink (the company that operates the Channel Tunnel), told the BBC that through competition, 'the market will be more dynamic, all operators will improve their offer.' ADVERTISEMENT 'I love Eurostar's service, but competition keeps everyone on their toes,' says Mark Smith, also known as the Man in Seat 61. 'The extra capacity this will bring has been shown to lower prices. It's definitely good news for travellers.' While prices for Eurotunnel service may fall as competition hots up, having more choice is crucial to the attractiveness of rail options. Being able to travel directly to London from cities in Germany, Switzerland and beyond is a good first step in making rail a workable alternative to air travel and encouraging passengers to switcht to this lower carbon form of transportation. Smith further notes that there could be more connections in the UK too, as Gemini Trains has touted services from Ebbsfleet in Kent. 'Eurostar doesn't want to do that,' he says. 'Let's also hope competitors will consider easier bike access and allowing dogs.'
