The
Prime
Minister


is
welcoming
European
Union
leaders
to
Lancaster
House
in
London
for
what
promises
to
an
historic
summit.

Although
a
number
of
items
are
on
his
agenda,
including
the
use
of
electronic
passport
gates
by
British
citizens
at
EU
ports,
a
security
pact
and
a
‘veterinary
deal’
to
ease
the
rules
on
food
trading,
campaigners
have
written
to
Sir
Keir
Starmer
urging
him
to
include
international
rail
in
his
discussions.

International
rail
services
from
London
have
been
in
the
news
recently,
partly
as
potential
open
access
operators
jostle
to
compete
with
Eurostar,
and
also
following
the
signing
of
a
Memorandum
of
Understanding
ten
days
ago
between
transport
aecretary
Heidi
Alexander
and
Swiss
federal
councillor
Albert
Rösti,
which
the
government
said
will
‘lay
the
groundwork’
for
future
train
services
between
Britain
and
Switzerland.

The
letter
to
the
PM
has
been
signed
by
Campaign
for
Better
Transport,UK
Transport
in
Europe
and
the
Rail
Freight
Group.

It
lays
out
several
priorities.
These
are
the
development
of
an
International
Rail
Strategy
with
growth
targets,
more
direct
services
between
London
and
EU
cities,
the
reopening
of
Ashford
and
Ebbsfleet
International,
further
simplifications
of
border
controls
and
investment
in
railways
to
the
Channel
Tunnel
through
Kent
to
encourage
more
rail
freight.

CBT
chief
executive
Ben
Plowden
said:
‘The
Channel
Tunnel
was
conceived
as
a
bold
expression
of
Anglo-European
cooperation
and
has
played
a
key
role
in
increasing
economic
prosperity
in
the
UK
and
our
relationship
with
Europe,
yet
it
is
woefully
underused.
With
the
government
undertaking
a
“once-in-a-generation”
programme
of
domestic
rail
reform,
we
are
keen
it
does
not
overlook
the
huge
benefits
of
international
rail.
The
government
must
use
the
full
potential
of
the
Channel
Tunnel
to
help
boost
the
UK
economy
and
revitalise
the
UK’s
relationship
with
the
EU.’

Rail
Freight
Group
director
general
Maggie
Simpson
said:
‘Increasing
rail
freight
through
the
Channel
Tunnel
will
stimulate
UK-EU
trade,
opening
up
new
routes
to
market
for
UK
businesses
and
helping
to
decongest
busy
motorways. We
urge
Government
to
provide
focused
support
for
this
vital
trade
corridor.’

They
are
being
supported
by
the
CEO
of
UK
Transport
in
Europe
Mark
Watts,
who
said
promoting
international
rail
‘is
one
of
the
most
effective
ways
to
boost
UK-EU
trade,
cut
emissions,
and
support
long-term,
sustainable
economic
growth’.

He
continued:
‘The
Channel
Tunnel
remains
a
vital
but
underused
asset.
By
working
with
the
EU
to
streamline
border
controls,
not
just
at
rail
termini
but
across
ports
and
key
pinch
points,
we
can
unlock
quick,
tangible
wins.
The
UK-EU
reset
is
the
opportunity
to
realise
that
potential
and
deliver
real
benefits
for
passengers,
businesses
and
the
regions
that
depend
on
them.’

A
recent
report
from
the
CBT
entitled:
‘Runways
to
railways:
unlocking
the
potential
of
the
Channel
Tunnel’,
said
28.5
million
people
a
year
could
be
travelling
between
Britain
and
the
continent
by
train
by
2034
–
which
would
be
more
than
two
and
half
times
the
current
number.

The
report
also
said
the
Tunnel
could
account
for
up
to
half
the
trips
between
Britain
and
its
nearest
continental
neighbours
currently
made
by
air
by
2040.

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