Eurostar urges ‘serious investment’ in high speed rail to Continent 

Eurostar has urged “serious investment” to allow growth in high speed rail services through the Channel Tunnel.

The company was responding to regulator the Office of Rail and Road’s consultation on capacity at the Temple Mills International maintainence depot in north London.

A group of potential rival rail operators have voiced interest in breaking Eurostar’s monopoly on service between London and the Continent.    

Eurostar and other operators combined stated ambitions equate to around 100 trains, with investment in the billions. 

A report commissioned by the ORR last month confirmed that while there could be some space created at Temple Mills, it is limited. 

The depot is not sufficient to accommodate all potential operators, including Eurostar’s own future plans, which were not considered in the report. 

These include intensifying use of its current fleet to provide more services and buying up to 50 new trains at a cost of €2 billion. 

Eurostar has pledged to invest in new facilities at Temple Mills and is working with London St Pancras Highspeed to enlarge St Pancras International station . 

The company’s response to the ORR proposes that a number of options alongside Temple Mills could be considered in Kent and east London and encourages other operators to invest in new facilities.  

It urged the regulator to help bring the industry and government together to work on a long-term plan for international rail which considers the growth ambitions of all operators and encourages private investment in new depot facilities beyond Temple Mills. 

Eurostar general secretary Gareth Mills said:“We support competition and growth through international rail but without serious investment in infrastructure to create more room, we risk not fulfilling the massive potential of sustainable European travel. 

“This is an enormously positive problem to solve as the demand and the willing is there. 

“Eurostar wants to help find solutions. What’s needed now is a big picture vision and investment by any operator who wishes in new depot facilities at Temple Mills and beyond.” 

He added: “Eurostar stands ready to collaborate with the government and the regulator on a framework that will unlock private investment, grow sustainable travel, and deliver world-class rail services for more passengers.”