Thalys has to borrow money for the first time; merger with Eurostar postponed
For the first time in its history, Thalys has to rely on external financing. In addition, due to the financial consequences of the corona crisis, the carrier has decided to postpone the merger with Eurostar....Read more
SNCF: state aid for Eurostar is needed within the month to get through crisis
French State Railways (SNCF) said that its high speed Channel Tunnel rail subsidiary Eurostar needs state aid within the month to get through Covid-19 crisis. SNCF chief executive Jean-Pierre Farandou, said this to the Financial...Read more
British trade union launches ‘Save Eurostar’ petition
UK rail union RMT launched a political campaign and petition called ‘Save Eurostar’. They fear that a political stand off at national government level risks leaving the future of Eurostar under threat. The operator is...Read more
Eurostar bailout and the effects on Channel Tunnel freight
The pandemic and lockdowns in the UK and mainland Europe have a severe impact on Eurostar, the operator that runs trains between London, Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. The operator is on the brink of financial...Read more
Eurostar survival on the line, UK lobby group calls for rescue
Eurostar, the train operator that runs services through the Channel Tunnel, says there is a ‘real risk’ that it won’t survive the crisis without government aid. British media report Eurostar has called for a UK...Read more
Eurostar in ‘fight for survival’, calls for urgent financial support to survive Covid-19
The Eurostar and high speed rail urgently need financial support from the UK government to get through the corona crisis. This is what Eurostar CEO Jacques Damas and HS1 CEO Dyan Crowther argue in a...Read more
Facial Biometric Corridor on Eurostar routes to avert deepfakes crime
Work has begun on the instalment of a facial biometric corridor along Eurostar’s high-speed rail routes from London through Europe. This cutting-edge facial recognition system, funded by the UK Department of Transport, will protect railways...Read more
Robots assist railways
The spread of coronavirus around the world and particularly in Europe has made the use of unmanned technologies more vital. In this regard, robots could be a solution for cleaning and disinfecting trains or stations....Read more
Coronavirus impact on railways: 19 March
RailTech continues to inform about the impact of coronavirus on the rail sector in Europe. Below you can find some highlights of Thursday, 19 March. Earlier, we have published similar updates on Wednesday, 18 March,...Read more
European operators suspend international trains
The further spread of coronavirus in Europe force the governments to take more measures including the closure of borders. This directly impacts on the railway operators that are suspending their international trains. It is a...Read more
Direct Eurostar links from Netherlands to UK
Despite Brexit, the rail links between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom will be improved this Spring. European cross-border high-speed railway operator Eurostar will launch a direct train from Amsterdam to London from 30 April....Read more
Thalys and Eurostar may merge into one entity
European cross-border high-speed railway operators Thalys and Eurostar may merge into one entity. By 2030, the combined company will serve 30 million passengers a year and make a significant contribution to the EU’s ‘shift to...Read more
Channel Tunnel growth despite Brexit and French railway strikes
Channel tunnel operator Getlink expressed confidence over growing profits and dividends this year and in the next four years, despite the challenges resulting from Brexit. The company formerly known as Eurotunnel presented its first-half year...Read more