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Cross-channel rail competitor Evolyn buys 12 trains ahead of 2025 launch
The company says that competition on the route should improve fares and destinations for passengers once its services begin.

13 October 2023 –  In reference to the recent Evolyn Press Release issued on October 11, which seemingly confirmed an agreement between Evolyn and Alstom for the acquisition of twelve (12) Very High-Speed Trains, Alstom would like to provide important information, as a means of clarification, and as such wishes to highlight the following items:

Alstom and Evolyn have established a short-term agreement to proceed with initial train system engineering activities with the objective of accelerating activities, should the parties eventually enter into a contract for the purchase and delivery of a certain number of trains, provided that Evolyn is capable of securing project financing.

With regards to potential future delivery dates for new trains, at this time, the final train delivery dates will be confirmed when a firm and final contract will be agreed upon, to be signed at a later date. 

an agreement between Evolyn and Alstom

Alstom and Evolyn have established a short-term agreement

Sir Richard Branson, the British entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group, is reportedly gearing up for a bid to break Eurostar’s long-held monopoly on Channel Tunnel rail services. The news, according to sources cited by The Telegraph newspaper in London, proposes that there may be a red liveried train in the Channel Tunnel to rival the familiar grey of Eurostar. The move, if confirmed, marks Branson’s return to the UK rail sector. It is four years after his Virgin Trains operation was controversially ousted from its West Coast franchise...

The brand-newly established railway company Heuro aims to be the alternative to Eurostar between Amsterdam, Paris and London from 2028. RailTech spoke to Dutch founder Roemer van den Biggelaar. “We just want lower prices and more people off planes and on trains”.

The core team behind Heuro is currently a trio, including father and son van den Biggelaar. Father Maarten, an established entrepreneur in the Netherlands, was already in talks with French railways SNCF a decade ago, to set up a new international carrier. “The SNCF gave up on that then, they were still in a partnership with NS and did not want to get in their way,” says Roemer van den Biggelaar.

That was the end of the story back then, but as the rail market is opening up more and more, father and son see chances of it succeeding now. Van den Biggelaar: “I’ve been interested in it ever since I was little. Now we are trying again, but together”...

Not sure how the boarder check capacity could be increased at Paris without major investment ...................

I'm sure there is a technology answer ...

err ... another destination county.  Frankfurt has been suggested before

The money earner is London - Paris

The limiting factor is the boarder controls, .....or we join Schengen.....

Mind - the RyanAir model of London (South Greenford) to Paris (Cergy St-Christophe) gets over the St Pancras and Gare du Nord congestion issue

I doubt the EU would be interested...the bosses from somewhere like Eton or Cheltenham Ladies Colleges might be a better bet.  ;D

Mind - the RyanAir model of London (South Greenford) to Paris (Cergy St-Christophe) gets over the St Pancras and Gare du Nord congestion issue

South Greenford? Why not move it a couple of miles and, entering into the realms of absolute, mad, stupid fantasy, to Old Oak Common. . .

Mind - the RyanAir model of London (South Greenford) to Paris (Cergy St-Christophe) gets over the St Pancras and Gare du Nord congestion issue

Not as daft as it sounds, Old Oak Common ...

Not as daft as it sounds, Old Oak Common box construction has passive provision for a link to HS1 

Had we been in a parallel universe in which there was an ever more integrated Europe, and then with full HS2, it is not beyond scope to imagine a train Edinburgh - Newcastle - York - Leeds - Sheffield - East Midlands - Interchange - Old Oak - Ashford - Lille - Brussels - Koln - Nurnberg - Munchen.    And (stop details to be added) Manchester to Malaga, Bristol to Berlin and Penzance to Palermo.  In the current universe, "not in our generation" I fear.

Trains will run from London to Cologne, Frankfurt and Geneva by 2030, vows Eurotunnel

‘Space will be found at St Pancras for new entrants,’ says Channel Tunnel chief
Simon Calder           Travel Correspondent

Cologne, Frankfurt and Geneva should appear on the train departure screens from London by 2030, the boss of Eurotunnel has vowed.

Yann Leriche, chief executive of the tunnel firm’s parent, Getlink, says he expects new entrants to start competing with Eurostar – and to double the number of direct rail routes from the UK.

Eurotunnel is the infrastructure operator between Folkestone and Calais. It currently runs the LeShuttle car-carrying operation as well as trains carrying trucks. Freight trains and Eurostar passenger expresses pay for the right to run through the tunnel. Eurotunnel collects €20 (£17) for each passenger on Eurostar trains.

The Channel Tunnel opened to passenger trains in November 1994. In the 29 years since then, Eurostar has had the market to itself. It currently runs from London St Pancras International to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

But at an event ahead of the 30th anniversary of Eurotunnel, Mr Leriche said the tunnel has capacity for more operators – and that new rail links would grow “low-carbon mobility between the UK and Continental Europe”...

The international departure terminal at London St Pancras is already at full capacity, with Eurostar obliged to cap the number of passengers on some peak services.

But Mr Leriche told The Independent: “We are working with our peers, and HS1 in particular. I will not speak on their behalf, but the space will be found at St Pancras for new entrants.

“There is space, there is potential, we are working and discussing that with them very closely.”

A spokesperson for HS1 Ltd, which operates London St Pancras, said: “Increasing services would unlock significant economic and environmental benefits.

“We can increase capacity at St Pancras and planning is underway to deliver this at the right time. Technology is one of the answers and evolving how we operate is another. We’re already trailing new innovative technology to help increase capacity while ensuring a smooth passenger experience...

More positive comments from Getlink and HS1, via The Independent (https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/eurotunnel-eurostar-train-london-rail-b2464123.html):

Amazing value then, when E* issues their £39 special offers....a basic fare of just £19 plus tunnel charge.

Amazing value then, when E* issues their £39 special offers....a basic fare of just £19 plus tunnel charge.