Updated
10.00

London
St.
Pancras
Highspeed


has
unveiled
an
incentive
scheme
for
new
and
existing
international
train
operators,
to
encourage
rail
travel
between
London
and
continental
Europe.

The
leaseholder
of
HS1
said
its
International
Growth
Incentive
Scheme
will
encourage
train
operators
to
introduce
new
services
to
new
destinations,
connect
intermediate
stations,
introduce
new
rolling
stock
and
increase
the
number
of
passengers.

Train
operators
who
qualify
will
be
entitled
to
discounts
of
up
to
50
per
cent
in
year
one,
40
per
cent
in
year
two
and
30
per
cent
in
year
three
on
track
access
charges.

London
St.
Pancras
Highspeed
said
it
wants
to
run
as
many
international
services
as
possible
with
the
intention
of
encouraging
growth,
offering
greater
choice
and
lower
fares
to
increase
sustainable
tourism.

The
International
Growth
Incentive
Scheme
is
available
to
all
international
high-speed
passenger
operators
using
or
proposing
to
use
the
high-speed
line.

There
is
a
New
Services
Incentive,
offering
a
discount
on
charges
for
new
train
services.

There
is
also
a
Passenger
Incentive,
offering
a
rebate
equivalent
to
£1
for
every
additional
passenger
carried
above
previous
levels.
This
is
to
be
paid
into
a
joint
fund
to
support
marketing
and
other
activities
aimed
at
increasing
demand.

The
proposals
have
come
amid
plans
to
more
than
double
international
capacity
at
St
Pancras
station
to
nearly
5,000
passengers
an
hour.

London
St.
Pancras
Highspeed
CEO
Robert
Sinclair
said:
‘The
International
Growth
Incentive
Scheme
is
an
innovative
and
groundbreaking
proposal
designed
to
boost
international
rail
travel
with
more
services
to
more
destinations
in
Europe.

‘We
are
enabling
operators
to
expand
their
services,
increase
the
network
of
destinations
they
serve
and
invest
in
new
rolling
stock.

‘Our
ambition
is
to
make
rail
the
preferred
mode
of
travel,
and
we
know
that
high-speed
rail
can
reduce
carbon
emissions
by
up
to
96
per
cent
compared
with
flying.

‘We
believe
this
will
boost
the
UK’s
economic
growth
and
contribute
to
our
national
effort
to
cut
carbon.’

The
proposals
have
been
welcomed
by
at
least
one
potential
operator.

Gemini
Trains
has
applied
to
the
Office
of
Rail
and
Road
for
an
open
access
licence
to
operate
between
London
and
Paris,
with
other
routes
to
follow.

Gemini
CEO
Adrian
Quine
said:
‘We
have
spent
two
years
developing
a
very
robust
business
plan
prior
to
today’s
announcement.
This
will
further
strengthen
our
plan
for
competitively
priced
fares, attracting
more
people
to
make
the
shift
from
road
and
air
to
rail.
We
are
now
seriously
assessing
whether
this
scheme
will
enable
us
to
offer
additional
new
and
exciting
routes.’

Virgin
has
also
announced
ambitions
to
run
international
services.
It
said:
‘Full
steam
ahead
for
competition
as
another
barrier
is
lifted
on
the
cross-Channel
route.
London
St
Pancras
Highspeed
is
working
hard
to
unlock
competition
on
the
cross-Channel
route
and
the
new
International
Growth
Incentive
Scheme
is
a
welcome
step
in
the
right
direction.
It
will
stimulate
choice
and
encourage
both
new
and
established
operators
to
be
dynamic
and
creative.

‘Today’s
announcement
means
Virgin
can
further
accelerate
its
plans,
which
is
great
news
for
consumers
on
both
sides
of
the
Channel
as
they
will
finally
get
the
choice
and
breadth
of
service
they
deserve.
Virgin
looks
forward
to
sharing
its
plans
in
more
detail
in
due
course.’

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