EUROPE: Gemini Trains still has ambitions to launch train services between the UK and continental Europe, despite the British rail regulator’s rejection of its application for depot access rights needed to enable it to launch services from Stratford International in east London to Paris, Brussels and eventually Köln.
The Office of Rail & Road instead selected a rival access proposal from Virgin Trains.
Responding to the regulator’s announcement on October 30, Gemini CEO Adrian Quine said ‘we are disappointed not to be successful in our application to the ORR, and we wish Virgin the best of success in offering international rail customers choice and value. We created a unique alliance of experts and major transport organisations, and we will consult them to seek other ways of bringing the Gemini service to the UK and Europe.’
Gemini said that even with Eurostar and Virgin Trains running trains, there would be spare capacity both in the Channel Tunnel and on High Speed 1.
Gemini said it ‘will work to consider options for exploiting this capacity, since we continue to believe that the growing population around Stratford International station and the millions of people close to Ebbsfleet station stand to benefit from international rail services, as should continental passengers seeking to reach southeast England without having to pass through St Pancras. Neither Eurostar nor Virgin will serve these significant markets.’
