St Pancras & Getlink Plan Major Boost to Europe Rail Links, Challenging Eurostar Monopoly
February 21, 2025
Eurostar has maintained a monopoly on foot passenger services through the Channel Tunnel for 30 years, but has faced criticism for high fares and service reductions.
Significant upgrades at St Pancras will be essential, particularly regarding security and border checks, to handle the increased flow of travelers.
A recent consultancy report suggested that modest infrastructure changes could alleviate current constraints at St Pancras, making it more feasible to expand services.
However, if all goes as planned, these new services may not commence until at least 2030, as operators will need time to acquire trains and secure necessary operating permissions.
Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink, highlighted the importance of developing low-carbon travel options to new destinations in Europe as part of this expansion initiative.
Recent service discontinuations by Eurostar, including routes to Disneyland Paris and southern France, have created a demand for new travel options.
St Pancras railway station in London, alongside Getlink, the operator of the Channel Tunnel, is set to increase train services connecting the UK with France, Germany, and Switzerland.
To support these new international routes, St Pancras Highspeed aims to boost passenger throughput from 1,800 to nearly 5,000 per hour, facilitated by a redesigned terminal.
Robert Sinclair, CEO of London St Pancras Highspeed, emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements to accommodate the anticipated rise in passenger volumes and enhance connectivity across Europe.
Currently, the design of St Pancras limits passenger flow and leads to queues, despite the Channel Tunnel having the capacity for more international services.
In response to this demand, potential competitors such as Virgin Group, led by Sir Richard Branson, and the Spanish start-up Evolyn are exploring proposals for new cross-Channel services.
The growing interest in rail travel as a greener alternative to flying is likely to further increase demand for these new routes.
Summary based on 7 sources
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Sources

The Guardian • Feb 21, 2025
St Pancras and Channel tunnel plan rail routes to Germany and Switzerland
The Independent • Feb 21, 2025
New train routes planned to link London to Italy and other popular holiday destinations
Evening Standard • Feb 21, 2025
Plans to expand St Pancras station to open up new cross-Channel routes to France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland