An end to Eurostar’s monopoly on the Channel Tunnel can only be a good thing for passengers, Guy Taylor argues For three decades, the French high speed operator has whizzed customers across the UK, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. But now at least five companies are interested in launching a rival. Among them, Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, Spain’s Evolyn and the newly established Dutch operator Heuro.
A new competitor would no doubt push Eurostar to improve punctuality, reduce disruption and, ultimately, lower fares. Just look at the influx of open access operators on Britain’s major rail routes that are helping give mainstay operators a kicking. Most agree Eurostar needs it.
The French firm experienced years of decline amid Brexit and the pandemic and capacity was hamstrung as a number of key routes were axed. Canned services include routes to Marseilles and Disneyland Paris, and Amsterdam is soon to join the list. Services from Ashford International, the main rail station in East Kent, have not restarted since they were struck off in Covid-19, despite strong objections from rail campaigners and locals.
The operator has also struggled financially post-pandemic and has in the past fallen back on its shareholders, which include the French government, to service its debt. The problems indicate a general need for change but the hype surrounding a new rival may actually be coming at the perfect time, as Eurostar finally looks to be getting more of a grip on.
