Spanish firm Evolyn said it is buying buy 12 trains from French manufacturer Alstom, the maker of France 's iconic TGV train, for its planned high-speed cross-Channel rail service.
Spanish firm Evolyn hopes to start rival London to Paris rail service from 2025. Future direct trains could run from London to Frankfurt, Cologne and ZurichA rival operator to Eurostar is set to start running London-Paris trains by 2025, raising the chances of future direct trains from the UK to Germany and Switzerland.
While these other destinations have not yet been confirmed, it is thought that they could include direct trains from London to Frankfurt, Cologne, Zurich and Geneva.Yann Leriche, chief executive of Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel's parent company Getlink, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Evolyn has indicated that they will start with London to Paris and then extend to other destinations.
Mr Leriche added that Evolyn's emergence into the market was 'great news for customers' and would 'unlock the growth potential of the UK to Europe high speed passenger market'. Getlink has also said that the tunnel and the rail networks that connect to it are designed to carry more than 20million high-speed passengers across the Channel each year - almost double the current level.
Evolyn said the total investment in the project is £1billion, and that the trains are expected to start running in 2025, with the service in full operation in 2026. 'I love Eurostar's service but competition keeps everyone on their toes and keeps prices down – low prices being few and far between on Eurostar at the moment, for various reasons.'
READ MORE Commuters face YEARS of chaos on the Elizabeth line as Network Rail plans engineering works on TfL route until 2029 - following 12 months of strikes and rising fares after opening to fanfare from Sadiq Khan Eurostar runs a lucrative business connecting London and mainland Europe via high-speed rail, having made a record core profit of €332million for 2022.
The Channel Tunnel operates on an 'open access' basis, 'meaning that any rail operator can use it to travel between the British and European networks, guaranteeing them an equal right of access', Getlink added.
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