Given the outrageous cost over-runs just for building a “truncated” HS2 from London to Birmingham, you might think that reviving such a link is a non-starter. However, Kayla Bibby -an Independent Traffic Planner thinks otherwise and has drawn up a plan. Tunnelling of the final section from Old Oak Common to Euston has only just begun and no final plan has been agreed for London Euston. She argues that there is still time to build this link as part of the Euston works for a cost of just £1.4 Billion – this is a small sum compared to the up to £90 billion total cost of building HS2. Opening up this link would make better use of HS2, as not just a London-Birmingham Shuttle but a strategic link from the Midlands and North to the expanding European High-Speed Network. Not building this link would relegate the UK to just remaining as a High-Speed branch-line from Lille. This is a plan for the long-term benefit of the UK economy and would help Liverpool & Manchester’s joint bid for the 2040 Olympics.

We strongly recommend that you have a look at her plan here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hs1hs2-connector-how-single-link-transforms-depots-services-bibby-jahfe/

EPF CONFERENCE 5th -6th JUNE in MAASTRICHT >>>>

Every Year the European Passenger Federation holds an Annual Conference in June. Last year it came to Swindon in the UK and this year it moves to The Netherlands. As many of you know, our campaign is one of 40+ EPF member organisations from 21 different countries. If you are a member of our campaign you can go to the conference for the much-reduced fee of 100 Euros – not bad for a 2-day conference?

To find out more about registration and the programme see here: epfconference.eu

1 Deutsche Bahn – They are the German State Rail Operator. They could probably raise the finance and already use similar trains to the e320s used by Eurostar. They have not given a launch-date for any services.

2 Evolyn/FS Italiane Group – This is a joint venture between a large Spanish coach company and Italian State Railways. They can probably raise the finance and claim that the Trenitalia ETR 400 trains could be adapted for use in the channel tunnel. They plan to start services in January 2029 and have applied to use the depot in Stratford to service 10 trains.

3 Gemini Trains- This is a recently formed new company who plan to run trains from London to Brussels & Paris, with some stopping at Ebbsfleet. It is not clear if they can raise the finance to buy or lease the trains. They have also applied to use the Stratford depot to service their trains.

4 Heuro – This is a new Dutch company which announced plans in 2023 to run up to 15 trains through the tunnel. It is also not clear if they can raise the finance to buy or lease the trains.

5 RENFE – This is the Spanish State Rail Operator, who announced plans to run services through the tunnel in 2021. Although they can probably raise the finance, there are “un-resolved” competition issues which could prevent them running trains within or through France.

6 SBB – Swiss Federal Railways – In May 2025, the UK and Swiss Governments signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” to help develop train services between the UK and Switzerland. While no firm plans have been announced, they probably could raise the finance to buy or lease the trains.

7 Virgin Group – They have announced plans to run frequent cross-channel high-speed services without any specific details. They are seeking partners to help raise the £700 million needed to implement their plans. They have also applied to use the Stratford depot to service their trains.

AND THEN A SURPRISE >>>

Eurostar recently announced their plan to serve Frankfurt & Geneva from the 2030s as “the conditions are finally right for them”. They also plan to order some new trains to replace their older trains and increase their fleet size by 16 in total.

BUT ONLY 4 CAN NOW MOVE ONTO THE NEXT STAGE >>>

Eurostar & the 3 companies who have formally lodged a request to use the Temple Mills Depot will have their case considered by The Office of Road & Rail (ORR). They need to provide ORR with information about their finances and the number of trains they plan to use over a 10-year period. The ORR plan to make a decision as to who can use this depot by the end of October.

At the end of March, the Campaign for Better Transport held their conference on International Rail. You may wish to read their Runways to Railways report at: https://bettertransport.org.uk/research/runways-to-railways-unlocking-the-potential-of-the-channel-tunnel/

THEN THE REGULATOR STEPS IN !!

On the same day the Regulator (The Office for Rail & Road) confirmed that there was space for more than one train operator to use the depot in Stratford. This then led to 3 train operators making formal bids to run international train services from London to the continent via HS1 and the Channel Tunnel. The 3 organisations who made formal bids were Evolyn, Virgin and Gemini. There are also up to 4 others who have publicly expressed an interest.

Being realistic, only one of the 3 that have made formal bids is likely to become the first to compete against Eurostar within the next 5 years. Terminal capacity at London, Paris & Brussels can now be increased to cope with more passengers and there is probably enough depot capacity for Eurostar + one other operator to run services from London. In practice this will be the train operator who manages to raise sufficient finance to place a firm order for trains which can be certified to run through the channel tunnel.

AND AN INCENTIVE SCHEME AS WELL !!

HS1 the owners of the High-Speed Line plan to launch an International Growth Incentive Scheme. There will be “Financial Incentives” to encourage train operators to expand services, introduce new destinations and boost passenger numbers.

AND A REMINDER FOR THE EUROPEAN FEDERATION CONFERENCE IN SWINDON on 13th & 14th JUNE.

Members of The European Campaign UK pay the reduced conference fee of 100 Euros. Places are still available. You can find further details of the program and registration via this link: https://www.epfconference.eu/

Last week we heard that LSPH and Getlink (The owners of the Channel Tunnel) have made an agreement to facilitate the expansion of passenger traffic along HS1 and through the tunnel to Europe. They hope to triple passenger capacity within the next 5 years. We also understand that plans are also being drawn up to expand capacity in the overcrowded international departures area at Paris – Gare du Nord. See here a recent report in The Guardian: –https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/21/st-pancras-and-channel-tunnel-plan-rail-routes-to-germany-and-switzerland

One morning, a few days before Xmas, the overhead wires came down on an outbound Eurostar while it was approaching the channel tunnel near Folkestone. Passengers were trapped in the train for almost 7 hours, before it was rescued and taken back to St Pancras. Q1: Why does it take so long to attach another locomotive to pull the broken-down train to the nearest suitable station? Q2: Are they trying to save money by not paying for a stand-by locomotive which could rescue the train? Q3 Why were Eurostar and HS1 unable to keep passengers better informed and supply them better with refreshments?

Then, early one morning, a few days before New Years Eve, both tunnels where the line crosses under the Thames were completely flooded. This blocked both lines for the rest of the day. This time, at least, trains were cancelled before any of them got stuck on the track. While the cause of the flooding, is still not clear, it is understood that the fire alarm system may have turned on an emergency water supply designed to put out fires in the tunnel. Q4: Why were both tunnels flooded at the same time? Q5: Are HS1 maintaining their infrastructure adequately, given the very high track access charges paid by Eurostar?

COULD STRATFORD, ASHFORD & EBBSFLEET BE PLACED ON STANDBY & OPENED UP DURING EMERGENCIES ?

These are 3 the empty stations between London and the Channel Tunnel that could be used by Eurostar in an emergency. Surely, staff could be re-deployed to one or more of these stations so that trains can be brought back to a better place. Passengers could then be more easily looked after, provided with refreshments and alternative transport options.

They also concluded that people wanted to take the train to a greater range of destinations than are possible at the moment, whether for leisure or business purposes. Bordeaux, Frankfurt and Prague were suggested as destinations that can be easily reached from London using HS1 and the High Speed Network across Europe. For further information see a recent report in The Global Railway Review https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/134092/poll-shows-81-per-cent-of-passengers-want-more-rail-routes-opened-to-europe/?utm_source=En