New Rail Operator London to Paris?

Take the news with a grain of salt. I won't be surprised if it happens, but early 2025 is extremely optimistic.

https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2023/10/13102023-alstom-statement-evolyn-press-release-issued-october-11

They have to build the trains yet, then do testing, get approval to run through the tunnel, get train paths on both sides of the Channel etc. Like Midnight Trains plans for Edinburgh to Paris it might happen, but odds are against meeting that particular deadline.

Alstom has already posted a note on their website that they are quite surprised that someone has ordered trains from them without their knowledge...

So it is all vapor ware at the moment. If you want to start a competing open access train service, the Channel tunnel is about the worst place to try it, as even Eurostar itself is struggling, and might end up giving it up...

That's actually somewhat old news. Either I or another (don't remember) had that story a month or so ago.

When they start training drivers and train crew, and announce a bookable timetable I will get excited.... I wish them luck - it might improve my shares in National Express but I don't think anything can....

These are always great fun as the speculation ranges over all kinds of things including whether Stratford International will get finally fitted out! Or turning them round at Ebbsfleet!

Without even considering track access etc St Pancras has insufficient passenger processing space already resulting in ever longer processing time and the only option to help there that is obvious to me is sacrificing shops which is not something that has been rushed to do already.

For anyone interested here's an article with more background and addressing some of the obstacles.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/10/22/eurostar-rival-evolyn-shake-up-channel-tunnel-rail/