#eurostar

#eurostar

Although Eurostar owns the depot, under UK and EU-derived rail legislation, key railway infrastructure must be made available on a fair and non-discriminatory basis. This includes maintenance depots if they are considered essential facilities. As Temple Mills is currently the only British railway depot accessible to (high-speed) trains with the larger continental European loading gauge, it's classed as essential for international rail services, so the rail regulator can issue an order to Eurostar to provide shared access.

Writing in The Times, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson said his aim was to inject competition and improve the passenger experience: "For too long, passengers have had no choice and even less joy. We're not here to copy. We're here to raise standards, spark innovation and give people a better way to travel."

Consumer protection for Eurostar passengers is significantly weaker than for airline passengers, who benefit from extensive EU regulations regarding delays and cancellations.

Eurostar asserts that a strategic government approach is essential to enhance overseas rail capacity, potentially leading to increased high-skilled employment and economic growth.

"Bosses at Eurostar and London's St Pancras station have signed a deal to increase capacity for the Eurostar, potentially removing one of the biggest obstacles to increases in UK-France train services."

More than 800 passengers on a Eurostar train from Brussels bound for London were stranded for nine hours in northern France after a technical failure.

The theft of 600 meters of copper cable has severely disrupted Eurostar services, leading to significant cancellations and delays across multiple routes.

Eurostar is expanding its network with new destinations like Frankfurt and Geneva, catering to business and leisure travelers while promoting sustainable travel options.

Eurostar chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave stated, "Many passengers prefer longer train journeys over flying due to a desire for sustainable travel, hence the expected strong demand for direct services to Frankfurt and Geneva which are key financial hubs."

The Elizabeth line has begun showing crowd information, enhancing passenger awareness and experience, though this feature is currently available only at select stations.