Eurostar


has
called
for
investment
to
fuel
international
rail
growth,
as
the
debate
over
capacity
at
Temple
Mills
depot
continues.

The
operator
has
submitted
its
response
to
the
Office
of
Rail
and
Road’s
consultation
on
capacity
at
Temple
Mills
International
depot,
after
a
report
concluded
that
there
is
some
space
which
could
be
used
by
other
operators.

Eurostar
said
the
report
did
not
deal
with
its
own
growth
ambitions,
and
that
although
there
is
some
space
at
Temple
Mills
it
would
not
be
enough
for
new
operators
as
well
as
an
enlarged
Eurostar
fleet.

Eurostar
is
planning
to
invest
as
much
as
€2
billion
in
a
fleet
of
up
to
50
new
trains.
It
is
urging
the
ORR
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.
Eurostar
is
suggesting
new
or
existing
sites
such
as
the
Ashford
Train
Maintenance
Centre,
the
freight
terminal
and
sidings
at
Dolland’s
Moor,
Singlewell
depot,
Ripple
Lane
and
Fawkham
Junction.

Eurostar
is
also
working
with
London
St
Pancras
Highspeed
to
enlarge
St
Pancras
International.

At
the
moment,
Temple
Mills
is
the
only
depot
on
the
British
side
of
the
Channel
Tunnel
which
can
handle
rolling
stock
built
to
the
larger
loading
gauges
in
use
on
the
continent.
Temple
Mills
was
opened
in
2007
when
Eurostar
moved
its
London
terminus
from
Waterloo
to
St
Pancras,
and
it
replaced
Eurostar’s
original
North
Pole
depot
at
Old
Oak
Common.

The
Eurostar
fleet
is
also
maintained
at
depots
in
Paris
and
Brussels.

Eurostar’s
general
secretary
Gareth
Williams
said:
‘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
will
is
there.
Eurostar
wants
to
help
find
solutions.
What’s
needed
now
is
a
big
picture
vision
and
investment
by
any
operator
who
wishes
new
facilities
at
Temple
Mills
and
beyond.

‘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.’

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