Rail companies operating on the high-speed line between London and the Channel Tunnel will face lower costs from April, the UK’s rail regulator announced on Wednesday. It could have an affect on ticket prices.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has mandated a reduction of approximately 10% in charges for the operator. Eurostar stated that "this decision will benefit passengers."
The high-speed HS1 line is used not only by Eurostar trains connecting London, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, but also by domestic trains, such as those between London and Kent, as well as freight trains travelling to and from the Channel Tunnel.
Feras Alshaker, Director of the ORR, stated in a press release: "Our thorough and independent analysis of HS1’s spending plans has led to significantly lower costs for both passenger and freight train operators using the line from April."
Eurostar welcomed the announcement. "In recent years, track access costs have risen significantly beyond inflation, increasing pressure to invest in stations and infrastructure to meet our future development goals," the train company said.
The high-speed train operator, partly owned by the SNCB, said that this decision "provides the financial flexibility needed to make significant investments that enhance the customer experience and ensure the long-term sustainability of the high-speed connection between the UK and continental Europe."
