The services of cross -channel trains are cheaper to work while operators cut expenses | Transport

The services of crossed trains to the service of new destinations will be cheaper to run in a program to grow international railway travels from the United Kingdom.

London St Pancras Highspeed (LSPH), who owns and manages the railways and stations from the capital to the channel tunnel, said that he would cut the costs for the operators who plan new routes.

Eurostar It is the only operator existing between the United Kingdom and Europe, with regular direct trains that only reach Paris and Brussels, since engineering work affects the Amsterdam route until May.

LSPH, previously known as HS1 LTD, said that “significant financial incentives” would reduce costs for all additional international services, but with particular advantages for those who call in different stations or introduce new trains.

He said that the track between St pancras International and the channel tunnel was actually half empty, with only 50% of the potential trains of the trains used.

LSPH also discount some expenses for intermediate stations – hoping to attract services to the stops of the Kent of Ebbsfleet and Ashford Abandoned by Eurostar.

While hopes in additional international rail services through the tunnel were previously raised and slipped, the CEO of LSPH, Robert Sinclair, said that the growth of the high -speed railway in Europe, the increase in the demand of passengers and the removal of the preventions to the new participants are now aligned.

Sinclair said that the incentive scheme, due to the end of May, was an “innovative proposal”.

He said: “We are allowing operators to expand their services, increase the network of destinations that are needed and invest in new rotating actions. Our ambition is to make the favorite travel mode in Europe rail and we know that the high -speed railway can reduce carbon emissions up to 96% compared to the flight.”

Sinclair said that there was an opportunity for growth on existing paths, since people hoped to connect to Paris or Brussels, adding that there was “a significant generational demand” by young people: “growth will come more than aviation”.

The scheme will reduce up to 50% discount on some charges paid by the operators the first year of new services, including any additional trains organized by the current single operator, Eurostar -Wey the overall access costs to the track could also be reduced if the high -speed line was used in a more complete way, Sinclair said.

The operator is charged about £ 7,600 on the track from London to Folkestone and there would be a reduction of about £ 2,000 on a new route, with a smaller discount in the next two years.

There may be a disbursement of £ 40 million-

The railway regulator, the railway and road office, this week said that Eurostar was able to make room in its depot of temples For competitors who hope to start international rail services.

Virgin Group said he meant that “the last obstacle” had been canceled in his ambition to manage trains in France and beyond. Two other potential competitors are the Spanish company Evynyn and the British startup Gemini trains.

Getlink, the owner of Eurotunnel, He is also pushing for new routes and competition in Eurostar.

Sinclair said that the combination of factors involved a “change of pace” in the availability of trains for Europe, including the plans for the redevelopment of parts of St pancras and a check-in and the faster boarding, increasing the capacity from about 2,000 passengers per hour to almost 5,000.

He said: “This is a system and there are many parts that work to achieve this – and the government is very favorable. It wants economic growth, sustainable trips and better relationships with Europe and we draw up all those boxes”.

A spokesman for Eurostar said: “Eurostar welcomes any incentive that allow more sustainable international travel and support our plans to manage more services. Our ambitions are the reason why we are also investing in international key stations such as St Pancras and The Temple Mills Depot to create more space.”