The agreement covers initiatives aimed at adjusting timetables, reducing journey times, and expanding the number of services operated through the Channel Tunnel.
The MoU includes provisions for improving timetable coordination and exploring ways to accommodate more high-speed trains per hour in each direction. The collaboration also involves a study into unlocking additional passenger capacity at London St. Pancras, where estimates suggest that nearly 5,000 international passengers per hour could be accommodated.
Both infrastructure managers plan to engage with policymakers to highlight the potential of rail travel for journeys under six hours, positioning it as an alternative to short-haul flights. The cooperation also considers the possibility of expanding services to destinations in Germany, Switzerland, and France.
London St. Pancras Highspeed operates the UK’s international high-speed rail link, connecting London with Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Eurotunnel, owned by Getlink, manages the Channel Tunnel, which serves both passenger and freight traffic between the UK and France. The agreement sets a framework for future developments in cross-Channel high-speed rail operations.