The Eurostar trains, which run through the Channel Tunnel between mainland Europe and the United Kingdom, could soon face competition from the Spanish state railways.
Tunnel operator Getlink confirmed that there are talks with Renfe and wants to expressly support the project. This would not only ensure more competition, but also lower fares for passengers. The Eurostar trains are currently considered to be quite expensive.
The establishment of a leasing company that could lease rolling stock to other operators is also being considered. However, it can be assumed that the start of operations could take at least five, but up to ten years. Eurostar is a subsidiary of the French State Railways. This plans to merge its subsidiaries Eurostar and Thalys in order to be able to reduce costs. During the corona pandemic, the number of passengers on the Channel Tunnel route plummeted, which was primarily due to the complicated entry and quarantine regulations.