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ARCHIVED - Spanish train company to challenge Eurostar
The state-run rail operator in Spain plans to expand to the Channel Tunnel
Spanish rail operator Renfe has this week initiated talks with Getlink, the French-British company that operates the Channel Tunnel, in a bid to enter into direct competition with Eurostar by running its own high-speed trains on the Paris-London line. Sources from Renfe have indicated that road space is available and demand for the service, with connects the two capitals in just over two hours, is high enough to make the venture profitable within four years.
The high-speed channel continuously registered an increase in traffic before the coronavirus pandemic hit, a trend that is expected to recover as early as next year. The Spanish operator has estimated that the Paris-London route was used by 9 million travellers in 2019, 7 million of whom took a Eurostar train.
If successful in its bid, Renfe will first need to standardise at least seven trains for the initial route, with plans already in place to expand to other French and international destinations.
The company had intended to operate in the Paris-Lyon-Marseille corridor but did not receive the necessary certifications or approvals.
Image: Renfe
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