Eurostar has submitted its response to the Office of Rail and Road’s consultation on capacity at the Temple Mills International depot. This urges the regulator to help bring the industry and Government together to work on a long-term plan for international rail which considers the growth ambitions of all operators and encourages private investment in new depot facilities beyond Temple Mills.
Last month’s Ipex report, commissioned by the ORR, confirmed that while there could be some space created at Temple Mills, it is limited. Importantly, it is not sufficient to accommodate all potential operators, including Eurostar’s own future plans which were not considered in the report. These include intensifying use of its current fleet to provide more services and buying up to 50 new trains. To prepare for this, Eurostar will invest in new facilities at Temple Mills and is working with London St Pancras Highspeed to enlarge St Pancras International.
Eurostar and other operators combined stated ambitions equate to around 100 trains, with investment in the billions. This huge growth ambition shows the potential of international rail for customers and the UK economy – but it depends on depot infrastructure that can meet this demand. Eurostar’s response proposes that a number of options alongside Temple Mills could be considered in Kent and East London and encourages other operators to invest in new facilities, as Eurostar itself is doing and has done for 30 years.
“We support competition and growth through international rail,”
says Gareth Williams, Eurostar's General Secretary, “but without serious investment in infrastructure to create more room, we risk not fulfilling the massive potential of sustainable European travel. This is an enormously positive problem to solve as the demand and the willing is there. Eurostar wants to help find solutions. What’s needed now is a big picture vision and investment by any operator who wishes in new depot facilities at Temple Mills and beyond.”
Eurostar highlights two key areas in its response to the ORR:
- Eurostar’s growth plans have not yet been considered Eurostar is investing billions of pounds in new trains, stations and facilities, creating more space for passengers and delivering more frequent services. It aims to grow to 30 million passengers. This depends on crucial upgrades to Temple Mills – the only UK site where Eurostar trains are maintained and stored. The ORR report and process has not yet factored in Eurostar’s growth plans, which include investments in Temple Mills.
- A long-term plan for international rail infrastructure is needed, with options beyond Temple Mills The UK needs a clear national strategy for supporting international rail. This could include utilising other depots such as Southeastern and Hitachi’s Ashford Train Maintenance Centre, freight facilities at Dollands Moor, Singlewell depot, Ripple Lane, HS1 chord and Fawkham Junction, and other land/sites in East London to build brand new facilities. With demand for international rail and sustainable travel at an all-time high, the UK cannot afford to fall behind.
Gareth Williams adds: “Eurostar stands ready to collaborate with the Government and the regulator on a framework that will unlock private investment, grow sustainable travel, and deliver world-class rail services for more passengers.”
Image credit: iStock
