Eurostar rival Evolyn is expected to run its first services from London to Paris under the English Channel.
“It would be the first time, after 30 years of Eurostar’s monopoly, that a competitor has entered the market,” an Evolyn spokesperson told reuters.com.
On Wednesday, October 11, Evolyn announced that it had agreed to purchase 12 trains from Alstom, a French multinational rolling stock manufacturer, for its high-speed rail service, which aims to challenge Eurostar’s monopoly on the route.
Evolyn said the project, worth £1 billion (R22,97bn), is expected to start running in 2025, and the London-Paris service will be in full operation in 2026.
“The owners or shareholders of this consortium are French and British partners, both industrialists and investment funds, as well as financiers and long-standing railway professionals, and international funds interested in the project,” said Evolyn’s spokesperson.
According to Getlink, the French operator of the Channel Tunnel, Evolyn’s announcement confirms the growth potential of the English Channel passenger rail market, as its infrastructure is designed to accommodate almost double the current rail traffic levels.
The Channel Tunnel operated on an ‘open access’ basis, guaranteeing an equal right of access to any rail operator travelling between British and European networks, said Getlink.
Evolyn is planning a non-stop service between London St Pancras International and Paris Nord, and stops in northern France might be added in the future, but no other routes are being planned at this early stage.
The company’s plans have been in development for three years, and discussions for track access rights are currently underway.
