The Office of Rail and Road has confirmed that there is limited capacity available at Temple Mills International depot in East London—potentially paving the way for a new cross-channel rail operator to enter the market alongside Eurostar.
Following applications from several prospective operators, the ORR commissioned an independent assessment of TMI’s capacity earlier this year. The depot is considered critical infrastructure for any operator running services between the UK and continental Europe.
The ORR’s review concluded that some capacity is currently available at TMI without changes to existing operations, and further capacity could be unlocked through targeted investment. After reviewing stakeholder feedback—including from incumbent operator Eurostar—the regulator has upheld the findings of the independent assessment.
The analysis suggests there is room for either one new operator or for Eurostar to expand its services.
Martin Jones, Deputy Director for Access and International, said:
“The growing appetite to provide international rail services is great news for passengers. We now need operators to set out more detail on their proposals at pace, and will work quickly and as thoroughly as possible to determine the best use of capacity at Temple Mills.”
The ORR has now asked Eurostar and all applicants to submit detailed plans outlining their proposed use of TMI. These submissions will be evaluated based on:
- Availability of capacity
- Impact on operational performance
- Financial and operational readiness
- Economic and societal benefits
- Stakeholder views
The regulator expects to make a final decision on access to TMI later this year. If necessary, it may issue a formal direction to allocate capacity in line with its legal duties and established procedures for managing competing rail access demands.
This development could mark a turning point in the future of cross-channel rail, potentially ending Eurostar’s long-standing monopoly and offering passengers more choice and improved connectivity between the UK and Europe.
Image credit: iStock
