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**rfceicizgm** · 02-09-2010, 03:25 PM

The train at St Pancras will be departing for ... Germany via Channel Tunnel

Ross Lydall
03.02.10

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...nnel-tunnel.do

High-speed trains direct from London to Germany could be running through the Channel Tunnel before the 2012 Olympics.

Train operator Deutsche Bahn wants to run its 186mph ICE (InterCityExpress) service between the capital and Cologne if new tunnel safety rules come into force.

A spokesman for High Speed 1, which owns the fast rail link between St Pancras and the tunnel, said a direct service could start by December 2012 — with a “possibility” that this could be brought forward for the Olympics.

He said: “Wouldn't it be wonderful to look up at the departure board at St Pancras International and see — alongside traditional Eurostar destinations of Paris, Lille and Brussels — Cologne, Frankfurt and Amsterdam?”
Deutsche Bahn already offers a ticket from London to Cologne for €49 (£42.70), but passengers must change trains at Paris or Brussels. The journey takes four hours 11 minutes.

The idea of a direct service to Germany has been discussed since the end of 2007, when High Speed 1 opened. It has moved closer with an announcement due from the Channel Tunnel's regulator on safety rules.
European regulations allowing open access to high-speed railways were introduced on 1 January.

The Inter-Governmental Commission on the Channel Tunnel is expected to scrap the requirement that trains have to be able to split in half and leave in separate directions if there is an incident in the tunnel.
Terry Gates, head of the UK secretariat of the IGC, said no final decision had been made but it was time to ask whether safety rules needed to be rewritten.

He told the Financial Times: “The IGC would not want to stand in the way of trains passing through the tunnel. But safety is paramount.”
Today Eurostar, which currently operates between London and Paris and Brussels, said it would welcome the competition — and may offer a new service between the capital and Amsterdam.

A Eurostar spokeswoman said: “Bring it on. We have been competing since we started with the airlines. We expect more competition in the not too distant future.”

Eurotunnel, which owns the undersea link, said it was “very keen” to see other train operators using the link. Spokesman John Keefe told the Standard: “The simple position is that there is now open access for all high-speed train operators who have got equipment that meets safety requirements.”

He said there was spare capacity on the line between the coast and St Pancras. The track was the same gauge across the Continent and there were no issues with train sizes. A Deutsche Bahn subsidiary already runs freight trains through the tunnel.

02-09-2010, 03:25 PM	#10
rfceicizgm Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 479 Senior Member	The train at St Pancras will be departing for ... Germany via Channel Tunnel Ross Lydall 03.02.10 http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...nnel-tunnel.do High-speed trains direct from London to Germany could be running through the Channel Tunnel before the 2012 Olympics. Train operator Deutsche Bahn wants to run its 186mph ICE (InterCityExpress) service between the capital and Cologne if new tunnel safety rules come into force. A spokesman for High Speed 1, which owns the fast rail link between St Pancras and the tunnel, said a direct service could start by December 2012 — with a “possibility” that this could be brought forward for the Olympics. He said: “Wouldn't it be wonderful to look up at the departure board at St Pancras International and see — alongside traditional Eurostar destinations of Paris, Lille and Brussels — Cologne, Frankfurt and Amsterdam?” Deutsche Bahn already offers a ticket from London to Cologne for €49 (£42.70), but passengers must change trains at Paris or Brussels. The journey takes four hours 11 minutes. The idea of a direct service to Germany has been discussed since the end of 2007, when High Speed 1 opened. It has moved closer with an announcement due from the Channel Tunnel's regulator on safety rules. European regulations allowing open access to high-speed railways were introduced on 1 January. The Inter-Governmental Commission on the Channel Tunnel is expected to scrap the requirement that trains have to be able to split in half and leave in separate directions if there is an incident in the tunnel. Terry Gates, head of the UK secretariat of the IGC, said no final decision had been made but it was time to ask whether safety rules needed to be rewritten. He told the Financial Times: “The IGC would not want to stand in the way of trains passing through the tunnel. But safety is paramount.” Today Eurostar, which currently operates between London and Paris and Brussels, said it would welcome the competition — and may offer a new service between the capital and Amsterdam. A Eurostar spokeswoman said: “Bring it on. We have been competing since we started with the airlines. We expect more competition in the not too distant future.” Eurotunnel, which owns the undersea link, said it was “very keen” to see other train operators using the link. Spokesman John Keefe told the Standard: “The simple position is that there is now open access for all high-speed train operators who have got equipment that meets safety requirements.” He said there was spare capacity on the line between the coast and St Pancras. The track was the same gauge across the Continent and there were no issues with train sizes. A Deutsche Bahn subsidiary already runs freight trains through the tunnel.
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