Latest news with #RobertSinclair
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Train fares from London to Europe set for big change
International train ticket prices through the Channel Tunnel could drop by up to 30 per cent if passenger numbers increase as predicted, a new report suggests. The study, conducted by infrastructure consultancy Steer, forecasts a potential tripling of annual passenger numbers on the high-speed line between London and the tunnel, rising from 11 million to 35 million by 2040. This anticipated growth, coupled with increased competition, could drive fare reductions of up to 30 per cent, according to the analysis. The research was commissioned by London St Pancras High Speed, owner of the tracks and the station. Plans are already in motion to double the international passenger capacity of St Pancras station to almost 5,000 passengers per hour, anticipating the projected increase in demand. Robert Sinclair, chief executive of London St Pancras Highspeed, said: 'This report points to the biggest transformation in international high-speed rail travel in a generation. 'Passengers are increasingly choosing rail over air for climate reasons and because they like the convenience and comfort of direct city centre to city centre travel. 'With collective determination and action, we can triple passenger numbers, lower fares and unlock new destinations across Europe. 'Our growth incentive is a catalyst to help make this vision a reality by supporting operators to introduce new services faster, shaping an exciting future for international rail.' Several companies are developing plans to run passenger trains through the Channel Tunnel, rivalling Eurostar, which has held a monopoly since the infrastructure opened in 1994. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group said last week there were 'no more major hurdles to overcome' before it could begin services, and it expected to 'make an announcement very soon'. It made the comment after regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) determined that some capacity at Eurostar 's Temple Mills maintenance depot in north-east London could be made available to other operators. Plans to launch services are also being developed by FS Italiane Group – which has signed a memorandum of understanding with Spanish company Evolyn to potentially form a partnership – and Gemini, chaired by Labour peer Lord Berkeley. London St Pancras Highspeed recently announced it will offer reduced charges to operators running additional international services on the line, which is operating at about 50 per cent capacity. Eurostar services from London serve Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, as well as running seasonal ski trains to the French Alps. Getlink – the French owner of the Channel Tunnel – believes there is the potential for services between London and locations such as Bordeaux, Cologne, Frankfurt, Geneva, Marseille and Zurich.
The Independent
09-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
International train fares from London could be cut by 30%
Ticket prices for train services through the Channel Tunnel could be reduced by up to 30% if demand grows, according to a report. The study by infrastructure consultancy Steer predicted that annual passenger numbers for international train travel on the high-speed line between London and the tunnel could triple from 11 million to 35 million by 2040. Expected growth and competition could lead to fare reductions of up to 30%, according to the analysis commissioned by London St Pancras High Speed, which owns those tracks and the station in the capital. There are plans to double the international passenger capacity of St Pancras to nearly 5,000 per hour. Robert Sinclair, chief executive of London St Pancras Highspeed, said: 'This report points to the biggest transformation in international high-speed rail travel in a generation. 'Passengers are increasingly choosing rail over air for climate reasons and because they like the convenience and comfort of direct city centre to city centre travel. 'With collective determination and action, we can triple passenger numbers, lower fares and unlock new destinations across Europe. 'Our growth incentive is a catalyst to help make this vision a reality by supporting operators to introduce new services faster, shaping an exciting future for international rail.' Several companies are developing plans to run passenger trains through the Channel Tunnel, rivalling Eurostar, which has held a monopoly since the infrastructure opened in 1994. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group said last week there were 'no more major hurdles to overcome' before it could begin services, and it expected to 'make an announcement very soon'. It made the comment after regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) determined that some capacity at Eurostar's Temple Mills maintenance depot in north-east London could be made available to other operators. Plans to launch services are also being developed by FS Italiane Group – which has signed a memorandum of understanding with Spanish company Evolyn to potentially form a partnership – and Gemini, chaired by Labour peer Lord Berkeley. London St Pancras Highspeed recently announced it will offer reduced charges to operators running additional international services on the line, which is operating at about 50% capacity. Eurostar services from London serve Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, as well as running seasonal ski trains to the French Alps. Getlink – the French owner of the Channel Tunnel – believes there is the potential for services between London and locations such as Bordeaux, Cologne, Frankfurt, Geneva, Marseille and Zurich.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
London to Milan by train? A new Eurostar rival sets out plans for services from 2029
Italian State Railways has announced a €1bn (£860m) investment in a train service along the Channel Tunnel – with plans to run between London and Paris by 2029. Since the Covid pandemic, Eurostar has enjoyed extremely strong demand on its rail link between France and the UK. Booking a day ahead, of the 15 departures on the route only four have seats available – with a minimum fare of £235 one way. The easyJet air fare from Luton is over £100 cheaper. But patient passengers can look forward to competition from Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS). The giant rail organisation says rolling stock inspired by the Frecciarossa ('Red Arrow') express trains in continental Europe will be used. Stefano Antonio Donnarumma, chief executive of the Italian enterprise, said: 'This investment is a decisive step forward in FS Group's vision of building a more integrated, competitive and sustainable European rail network. 'High-speed rail networks are the backbone of efficient and environmentally friendly mobility, and by expanding our presence on key corridors, we are not just investing in infrastructure and innovation, but also in the future of European transport. 'More competition will help to create a more efficient and customer-oriented industry, offering a real alternative to air travel'. The rail link between London and the Channel Tunnel is current operating at only 50 per cent capacity, according to London St Pancras Highspeed, which runs the line. The firm's chief executive, Robert Sinclair, said: 'We welcome the role that new and existing operators can play in increasing capacity on the high-speed line between London St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel. 'Greater competition will offer more choice for passengers, lower fares, and access to new destinations, all of which support a shift to more sustainable travel. 'Encouraging more people to choose rail over air is one of the most effective ways to cut transport emissions. We are excited about working with all operators that share our ambition to grow the market, attract new passengers, and realise the full environmental and economic potential of high-speed rail.' FS says it is working with Evolyn, a Spanish start-up, which had previously said it wanted to begin services on the route by 2025. Sir Richard Branson 's Virgin Group has also expressed an interest in running trains between London and Paris, as has a start-up named Gemini. But speaking to The Independent last month, well before the news of the Italian connection emerged, Susanne Kries – co-author of Europe by Rail – predicted: 'It will a FS Frecciarossa which first competes with Eurostar." The FS announcement follows two significant developments in the past 10 days. London St Pancras Highspeed announced discounts on infrastructure charges to operators planning new routes. And a study from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) about Eurostar's Temple Mills maintenance depot in east London – essential for any rival operator – concluded 'some capacity can be made available' at the depot. A Eurostar spokesperson said the study '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'. They added: 'Demand for international rail and sustainable travel is at an all-time high, which is a hugely positive story for European connections and the planet. Eurostar is once again accelerating sustainable growth by aiming to reach 30 million passengers and will invest close to €2bn [£1.72bn] in up to 50 new trains for customers to enjoy.' FS raised the prospect of longer links from London, including to Milan and Marseille. The latter was a Eurostar route that was dropped in response to both Covid and Brexit. Mark Smith, the international rail guru known as The Man in Seat 61, said: 'A ready-made network London-Paris-Lyon-Avignon-Aix-Marseille/Turin-Milan is quite exciting, I must admit.' Eurostar also mothballed two stations in Kent after Brexit: Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International. FS said an evaluation is under way to run trains to and from Ashford. Italian State Railways has been operating in the UK since 2017. It runs the C2C franchise between London and south Essex, and has a 30 per cent stake in Avanti West Coast. High-speed rail competition is flourishing in Spain, where the national operator Renfe is in competition against French-owned Ouigo and Iryo, part-owned by FS. The Madrid-Barcelona rail distance, just over 500km/300 miles, is almost identical to London-Paris. But fares for short-notice trips are typically €40 (£34).
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘Groundbreaking' scheme that could cut train fares between UK and Europe unveiled
Passengers could look forward to cheaper rail fares between the UK and Europe under a new scheme designed to boost international rail travel to the continent. London St Pancras Highspeed (LSPH) – the owner and operator of the railway and stations between London to the Channel Tunnel – has said it will introduce significant cuts for operators planning new routes. The new initiative will see cuts of up to 50 per cent off charges paid by operators in their first year of new services. Track access charges could also be reduced if the high-speed line was used more fully. At present, Eurostar is the sole existing operator between the UK and Europe, although the Virgin Group is poised to announce new services expected to rival this. Last month, the company shared details of an ambitious £700 million fundraising project that aims to connect London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. On Monday, Virgin said there existed 'no more major hurdles' after the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) confirmed the potential availability of capacity at Eurostar's Temple Mills maintenance depot in London, something which had previously been a major obstacle for competitors. Other operational competitors include British startup Gemini Trains and the Spanish company Evolyn. LSPH, formerly known as HS1 Ltd, said the 'significant financial incentives' would cut costs for all and any additional international services, but particularly for those calling at different stations or introducing new trains. Robert Sinclair, chief executive of LSPH, said the incentive scheme, which is set to take effect from the end of May, was a 'groundbreaking proposal'. 'We are enabling operators to expand their services, increase the network of destinations they serve and invest in new rolling stock,' he said. 'Our ambition is to make rail the preferred mode of travel to Europe, and we know that high-speed rail can reduce carbon emissions by up to 96 per cent compared with flying.' When asked whether Eurostar passengers could look forward to reduced fares in future, a spokesperson told The Independent that such incentives 'give us the financial headroom to make critical investments to enhance the customer experience'. sustainable international travel and support our plans to run more services. 'Our ambitions are why we're also investing in key international stations like St Pancras and the Temple Mills depot to create more space. We will now study the draft in detail and take part in HS1's consultation on growing cross-channel rail.'
Local Germany
25-02-2025
- Business
- Local Germany
London St Pancras plans 'direct train routes between UK and Germany'
In future, passengers in the UK may be able to book direct trains to cities in Germany, Switzerland and France, and vice versa. London St Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel owner Getlink have penned proposals for a range of new international routes, including direct connections to Germany, as part of plans to boost passengers at the long-distance rail station. Getlink has floated Bordeaux, Cologne, Frankfurt, Geneva, Marseille and Zurich as potential destinations. No official timeline has been set for launching the new routes, but a report by The London Economic suggests new services wouldn't likely begin until 2030. The operators would need some years to acquire trains and secure access to tracks on both sides of the channel. Currently, Eurostar is the only rail operator running services across the Channel. These run to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. If passengers want to travel to Germany, their best option is usually to travel to Brussels and then change to an additional long-distance service - such as a night train - to cities like Frankfurt and Berlin. Back in 2022, the Daily Mail reported that Eurostar was working on extending its existing services to offer a range of direct routes to German cities like Cologne and Düsseldorf. However, nothing was officially announced at the time and since then no further details have emerged. However, as part of the new agreement, Paris-based Getlink is pushing companies to develop cross-border connections from the UK to a range of new European destinations. According to the BBC, Virgin Group and Evolyn are and develop direct UK-Germany routes for the first time. Virgin told reporters establishing new connections would be a "huge undertaking", but said the UK-France routes was "ripe for change with plenty of room and potential for new competition at St Pancras and through the Tunnel". 'Faster and more affordable' The Getlink collaboration comes after London St Pancras Highspeed set out a number of proposals for drastically boosting passenger numbers at the station. According to the recommendations, St Pancras could support up to 5,000 international travellers per hour rather than the current 1,800. On Thursday, the station operator announced that it has signed an agreement with Getlink to reduce journey times, improve timetable coordination, and incentivise more trains and new routes. These adjustments are designed to make travel across the English Channel "faster, more affordable and more convenient," the statement read. According to Robert Sinclair, CEO of London St Pancras Highspeed, the two companies want to "realise a future where high-speed rail is the preferred option for travelling to Europe". With many European cities reachable by train in under six hours, international rail services could offer an attractive alternative to short-haul flights, the companies claim. "As we see demand for international rail travel grow, London St. Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel have an important role to play... to encourage new and existing train operators to expand capacity and launch new destinations unlocking the potential of a fully connected Europe," Sinclair added. The Local approached St Pancras Highspeed for further information but had not yet heard back at the time of publishing.
