The European Commission has given the green light for Eurostar’s proposed merger with Belgium’s Thalys, which runs high-speed trains between France and Belgium.
The merger plan was originally set out in September 2019 but was put on hold because of the Covid crisis.
The proposal will create a new pan-European rail operation linking the UK with France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, according to the International Railway Journal.
Both firms are controlled by France’s state railway operator SNCF.
The EC said the merger would not raise competition concerns.
Codenamed Green Speed, the project see the Channel Tunnel passenger rail service combine with Thalys to capitalise on environmental concerns about air travel by giving more passengers a sustainable alternative to flying.
A direct rail journey from London to Bordeaux would take about four-and-a-half hours.
More: Eurostar pan-European merger plan given ‘cautious welcome’