Latest news with #YannLeriche
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Europe's best railway station that's one of world's busiest is getting £1bn revamp – and could launch direct route to UK
Construction is likely to start by 2030 ON TRACK Europe's best railway station that's one of world's busiest is getting £1bn revamp – and could launch direct route to UK Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EUROPE'S best railway station is set to receive a £1billion upgrade with the possibility of a direct route on the cards. Plans to expand one of Europe's busiest train stations have been revealed and include a new track and second tunnel, as the prospect of a direct link to London grows more likely. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 The major European station is set to receive a huge upgrade Credit: Getty 6 This upgrade will increase the station's capacity by 50 per cent Credit: Getty Major station set for huge upgrade This expansion is estimated to cost over £1bn with construction likely to commence in the latter half of the 2020s. These upgrades will increase the station's current capacity by a staggering 50 per cent. Plans were publicly displayed on May 14 and have since been approved as Zürich Stadelhofen station braces for an upgrade. Commissioned by the Swiss Federal Government, the Swiss Federal Railways (SSB) aims to address a major bottleneck in the Zürich S-Bahn system, Railway Pro reports. SSB intends to achieve this through the station's expansion, as the current three-track layout already operates at full capacity. Plans for direct route to London This comes after SSB revealed hopes to create a direct line to London earlier this year. According to Swiss info, the prospect of a direct high-speed rail link is growing more likely, but Switzerland needs to make adaptations to its stations before this can happen. This new expansion could be a step in the right direction as the proposed upgrade of one of the world's busiest stations will enable more frequent services and improve connectivity. One Brit told Swiss Info: "We feel so disconnected after Brexit. This kind of direct connection would be incredible." Currently, Brits can travel to five places by direct train with Eurostar -Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Picturesque English town is getting new £27m train line for first time in 60 years – & will cut journey times by an hour But new plans have suggested routes from the UK to seven other cities in Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy. Yann Leriche, the chief executive of Getlink, said: "We are keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon [travel] with a range of new destinations in Germany, Switzerland and France. A spokesperson for London St Pancras Highspeed added: "Many European cities could be reached directly by train in under six hours which we believe is really competitive with short-haul air travel." However, the plans are rather ambitious, with no set time frame for when these could launch. Key upgrades to major Zürich station With approximately 80,000 daily passengers and 770 train movements, Zürich Stadelhofen is the third-busiest station in the city and the tenth-busiest in Switzerland. The proposed upgrade will enable more frequent services and support the implementation of a 15-minute base frequency across the network. According to Railway Pro, these are the key upgrades to the station : The construction of a fourth track on the hillside of the station, aligned with the current shopping level Connection of the new track to existing tunnels A new single-track Riesbach Tunnel towards Zürich Tiefenbrunnen Enhanced station access Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences. Davos to Geneva, Switzerland "After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen "Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey London to Paris by Eurostar "Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what's so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won't have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail "From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton Beijing to Ulaanbatar "The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray 6 The Swiss station opened its doors for the first time in 1894 Credit: Getty 6 Stadelhofen is currently the third largest station in Zurich Credit: Getty 6 Work is expected to start by 2030 Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Europe's best railway station that's one of world's busiest is getting £1bn revamp – and could launch direct route to UK
EUROPE'S best railway station is set to receive a £1billion upgrade with the possibility of a direct route on the cards. Plans to expand Advertisement 6 The major European station is set to receive a huge upgrade Credit: Getty 6 This upgrade will increase the station's capacity by 50 per cent Credit: Getty Major station set for huge upgrade This These upgrades will increase the station's current capacity by a staggering 50 per cent. Plans were publicly displayed on May 14 and have since been approved as Zürich Stadelhofen station braces for an upgrade. Commissioned by the Swiss Federal Government, the Swiss Federal Railways (SSB) aims to address a major bottleneck in the Zürich S-Bahn system, Advertisement SSB intends to achieve this through the station's expansion, as the current three-track layout already operates at full capacity. Plans for direct route to London This comes after SSB revealed hopes to create a According to This new expansion could be a step in the right direction as the proposed upgrade of one of the world's busiest stations will enable more frequent services and improve connectivity. Advertisement Most read in Travel One Brit told Swiss Info: "We feel so disconnected after Brexit. This kind of direct connection would be incredible." Currently, Brits can travel to five places by direct Picturesque English town is getting new £27m train line for first time in 60 years – & will cut journey times by an hour But Yann Leriche, the chief executive of Getlink, said: "We are keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon [travel] with a range of new destinations in Germany, Switzerland and France. Advertisement A spokesperson for London St Pancras Highspeed added: "Many European cities could be reached directly by train in under six hours which we believe is really competitive with short-haul air travel." However, the plans are rather ambitious, with no set time frame for when these could launch. Key upgrades to major Zürich station With approximately 80,000 daily passengers and 770 train movements, Zürich Stadelhofen is the third-busiest station in the city and the tenth-busiest in Switzerland. The proposed upgrade will enable more frequent services and support the implementation of a 15-minute base frequency across the network. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun According to Railway Pro, these are the key upgrades to the station : The construction of a fourth track on the hillside of the station, aligned with the current shopping level Connection of the new track to existing tunnels A new single-track Riesbach Tunnel towards Zürich Tiefenbrunnen Enhanced station access Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences. Davos to Geneva, Switzerland "After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen "Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey London to Paris by Eurostar "Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what's so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won't have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail "From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton Beijing to Ulaanbatar "The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray 6 The Swiss station opened its doors for the first time in 1894 Credit: Getty 6 Stadelhofen is currently the third largest station in Zurich Credit: Getty 6 Work is expected to start by 2030 Credit: Getty Advertisement 6 The upgrade is estimated to cost of £1bn Credit: Getty
National Geographic
15-06-2025
- Business
- National Geographic
Eurostar is about to get competition. Here's why it's good news for travelers
This story was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Passengers travelling to Europe by rail could see a raft of new train operators in the coming years. Eurostar — which has always had a monopoly on services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam — now faces the biggest threat of competition since it launched its first train through the Channel Tunnel in 1994. With the promise of more choice and lower prices, could this be good news for travellers? What's the latest? A handful of companies are vying for access to HS1 — the high-speed line between London and Folkestone — including Virgin Trains and Spanish start-up Evolyn in partnership with Italy's FS Italiane Group. Virgin is preparing to order a dozen high-speed trains to run through the tunnel. In March, UK start-up Gemini Trains announced it had applied for a train operator's licence and access to the tracks through the Channel Tunnel. It believes it could launch services in 2029, as do Virgin and FS Italiane Group/Evolyn. Why the sudden competition? Cross-channel rail travel has bounced back significantly since the pandemic, in part because of the surge in popularity of rail holidays prompted by environmental concerns. Eurostar recorded its best year in 2024, carrying 19.5 million passengers in total. The cross-Channel routes saw the biggest increases, with London-Paris up 280,000 and London-Brussels up 250,000. In January, the Office for Rail and Road (ORR), the regulator, also forced HS1 to cut charges for using the track from London to the Channel Tunnel in a bid to attract more operators to the route. All of this makes the prospect of more services attractive. 'The high-speed line connecting London and the Continent through the Channel Tunnel is one of the great rail routes,' says Adrian Quine, chief executive of Gemini Trains. Is there room for such expansion? London St Pancras Highspeed (LSPH), the company responsible for the London station and the high-speed track to Folkestone, has drawn up plans to triple capacity at the notoriously congested station. This would allow it to expand the international departure area and accommodate up to 5,000 passengers an hour — an increase from 1,800 an hour. In February, LSPH and Getlink, the French operator of the Channel Tunnel, agreed to work together to 'grow international rail connectivity between the UK and Europe'. Getlink has been vocal in promoting the fact there's plenty of spare capacity in the tunnels. In late 2023, its designers forecast that traffic would double over the following 10 years. What could it mean for travellers? The ultimate prize would be more destination choice and, with greater competition on existing routes, cheaper fares. Getlink hopes to see direct passenger services to Frankfurt, Cologne, Geneva and Zurich. Eventually, services could reach as far as Milan. Yann Leriche, chief executive of Getlink, says, 'We're keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon [travel] with a range of new destinations in Germany, Switzerland and France.' Ministers have said that competition on the line would 'bring prices down'. They highlighted the effects of competition on the East Coast Main Line, where challenger operators like Lumo have driven down fares and increased passenger numbers. What are the hurdles? Any new operator would need permission to run on both sides of the Channel. Post Brexit, the process of obtaining clearance is more bureaucratic. Eurostar is also nervous that new entrants will hamper its plans to carry 30 million passengers by 2030. A row has erupted over access to the only UK rail maintenance depot on the high-speed route, which it says is at full capacity. The claim was dismissed in March by the ORR, which said that two of the depot's eight maintenance lanes are underused and could be allocated to the rival companies. Eurostar dismissed the regulator's report findings. It says, 'The options presented in the report could help create some capacity, but this wouldn't be enough to accommodate the stated ambitions of any single operator.' The hope is that the hurdles can be overcome. The results could be good news for travellers hoping to switch to rail — but it might be a long time coming. Published in the June 2025 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nicola Lyons appointed Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Getlink
PARIS, May 26, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Nicola Lyons joins Getlink (Paris:GET) as Group Chief Human Resources Officer and, as such, becomes a member of the Executive Committee. She will lead the Group's human resources strategy and key projects, including training, career development, recruitment and integration, as well as diversity and inclusion. Yann Leriche, Chief Executive Officer of Getlink, said: "I am delighted to welcome Nicola Lyons. Her background in a variety of European cultural environments will be an asset in implementing the development plans of a group such as ours. Her knowledge of logistics and freight transport companies will be invaluable in achieving operational excellence." With over 20 years of experience in international companies, Nicola Lyons has in-depth knowledge of the freight and logistics sectors. She began her career in 2001 in London with the Bouygues Group before joining the Fujitsu Group in 2005, where she gained promotion to Deputy Director of Human Resources. In 2009, she joined the industrial logistics company GEFCO as Human Resources Manager for the United Kingdom, a role she took on for the Benelux region in 2012. In 2015, she moved into global roles, first based in Paris, then in the Netherlands, for the Freight Forwarding (Air & Sea) division. Returning to Paris in 2020, she became Chief Human Resources Director for the EMEA region and then Chief Human Resources Director for the Integrated Logistics division. In 2022, she was appointed SVP Human Resources for Europe at the logistics and supply chain company CEVA Logistics (CMA-CGM Group). Nicola Lyons is a graduate of the University of West London (Applied Languages) and Coventry University (Human Resources). For the composition of the Getlink Executive Committee, please see: About Getlink Getlink SE (Euronext Paris: GET), through its subsidiary Eurotunnel, is the concession holder until 2086 for the Channel Tunnel infrastructure and operates Truck Shuttles and Passenger Shuttles (cars and coaches) between Folkestone (UK) and Calais (France). Since 31 December 2020 Eurotunnel has been developing the smart border to ensure that the Tunnel remains the fastest, most reliable, easiest and most environmentally friendly way to cross the Channel. Since it opened in 1994, more than 518 million people and 106 million vehicles have travelled through the Channel Tunnel. This unique land link, which carries a quarter of trade between the Continent and the United Kingdom, has become a vital link, reinforced by the ElecLink electricity interconnector installed in the Tunnel, which helps to balance energy needs between France and the United Kingdom. Getlink completes its sustainable mobility services with its rail freight subsidiary Europorte. Committed to "low-carbon" services that control their impact on the environment, Getlink has made the place of people, nature and territories a central concern. View source version on Contacts Press contacts: Anne-Sophie de Faucigny: +33.6.46.01.52.86Laurence Bault: +33.6.83.61.89.96 Analyst and investor contacts: Virginie Rousseau: +33.6.77.41.03.39Dana Badaoui: +33.6.80.01.39.46 Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
26-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Nicola Lyons appointed Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Getlink
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Nicola Lyons joins Getlink (Paris:GET) as Group Chief Human Resources Officer and, as such, becomes a member of the Executive Committee. She will lead the Group's human resources strategy and key projects, including training, career development, recruitment and integration, as well as diversity and inclusion. Yann Leriche, Chief Executive Officer of Getlink, said: 'I am delighted to welcome Nicola Lyons. Her background in a variety of European cultural environments will be an asset in implementing the development plans of a group such as ours. Her knowledge of logistics and freight transport companies will be invaluable in achieving operational excellence.' With over 20 years of experience in international companies, Nicola Lyons has in-depth knowledge of the freight and logistics sectors. She began her career in 2001 in London with the Bouygues Group before joining the Fujitsu Group in 2005, where she gained promotion to Deputy Director of Human Resources. In 2009, she joined the industrial logistics company GEFCO as Human Resources Manager for the United Kingdom, a role she took on for the Benelux region in 2012. In 2015, she moved into global roles, first based in Paris, then in the Netherlands, for the Freight Forwarding (Air & Sea) division. Returning to Paris in 2020, she became Chief Human Resources Director for the EMEA region and then Chief Human Resources Director for the Integrated Logistics division. In 2022, she was appointed SVP Human Resources for Europe at the logistics and supply chain company CEVA Logistics (CMA-CGM Group). Nicola Lyons is a graduate of the University of West London (Applied Languages) and Coventry University (Human Resources). For the composition of the Getlink Executive Committee, please see: About Getlink Getlink SE (Euronext Paris: GET), through its subsidiary Eurotunnel, is the concession holder until 2086 for the Channel Tunnel infrastructure and operates Truck Shuttles and Passenger Shuttles (cars and coaches) between Folkestone (UK) and Calais (France). Since 31 December 2020 Eurotunnel has been developing the smart border to ensure that the Tunnel remains the fastest, most reliable, easiest and most environmentally friendly way to cross the Channel. Since it opened in 1994, more than 518 million people and 106 million vehicles have travelled through the Channel Tunnel. This unique land link, which carries a quarter of trade between the Continent and the United Kingdom, has become a vital link, reinforced by the ElecLink electricity interconnector installed in the Tunnel, which helps to balance energy needs between France and the United Kingdom. Getlink completes its sustainable mobility services with its rail freight subsidiary Europorte. Committed to "low-carbon" services that control their impact on the environment, Getlink has made the place of people, nature and territories a central concern.
