MPs call for more operators to use Channel Tunnel

A group of South East MPs want more train operators to be able to use the Channel Tunnel

A group of South East England MPs are calling for other train operators to be allowed to use the Channel Tunnel.

The group of Labour MPs delivered a letter to Fiona Gillon, the chief executive of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on Tuesday.

They say expanded rail services could bring £534m a year to the region, with up to 500,000 extra visitors, and have asked for other operators to be given access to the Temple Mills International Depot in Leyton, London, the only facility where Channel Tunnel trains can be serviced.

The ORR says it hopes to make a decision on the depot soon saying: "The growing appetite to provide international rail services potentially provides good news for passengers."

The depot is run by Eurostar, with the ORR due to decide in October if rival operators should be allowed access.

In March the ORR said it would be possible to add extra capacity at the depot.

The MPs' letter was signed by Ashford's Sojan Joseph, Folkestone and Hythe's Tony Vaughan, Dartford's Jim Dickson, East Thanet's Polly Billington, Rochester and Strood's Lauren Edwards and Hastings and Rye's Helena Dollimore.

(L-R) Jim Dickson, Helena Dollimore, Sojan Joseph, Polly Billington and Tony Vaughan delivered their letter to the government

The letter says the decision over Temple Mills will be "a pivotal moment for international rail competition in the UK".

Uber and Gemini, Virgin and the Italian national operator Trenitalia have expressed an interest in running passenger services through the Channel Tunnel.

A campaign to restore Channel Tunnel services to Ashford International is also ongoing, after they were suspended in 2020 due to low passenger numbers during the Covid pandemic.

An ORR spokesperson said: "The growing appetite to provide international rail services potentially provides good news for passengers.

"Operators are setting out more information on their proposals where needed, and we will work quickly and as thoroughly to determine the best use of capacity at Temple Mills."