The
prospects


for
more
international
operators
running
trains
between
London
and
the
continent
may
have
improved,
following
the
publication
of
a
report
on
depot
capacity
commissioned
by
the
Office
of
Rail
and
Road.

Several
contenders
have
said
they
would
like
to
compete
with
Eurostar
and
serve
more
destinations
in
mainland
Europe,
including
Virgin
Trains
and
also
Gemini
Trains,
which
is
led
by
HS2
critic
Lord
Tony
Berkeley.

But
Eurostar
had
argued
that
capacity
at
Temple
Mills
in
east
London
is
limited,
and
that
there
is
no
other
depot
on
the
London
side
of
the
tunnel
that
can
deal
with
trains
built
to
a
larger
continental
structure
gauge. 

The
report
from
consultants
IPEX
concludes
that
there
is
some
capacity
at
Temple
Mills,
and
that
some
of
this
can
be
used
without
any
changes.
More
capacity
could
be
added
if
operational
practices
were
changed,
although
this
would
require
investment.

Eurostar
has
25
sets
altogether,
but
they
are
also
maintained
at
Le
Landy
in
Paris
and
Forest
in
Brussels.

IPEX
says
only
six
to
10
sets
are
at
Temple
Mills
over
a
normal
24-hour
period,
and
that
the
maximum
depot
capacity
without
restrictions
on
activity
is
15
sets.
The
result
is
that
there
is
room
for
another
four
to
eight
sets,
rising
to
nine
if
a
decommissioned
Class
373
set
is
removed.

In
response,
Eurostar
said:
‘Eurostar
welcomes
this
independent
study.
It
confirms
what
Eurostar
has
said
all
along:
the
Temple
Mills
depot
is
effectively
almost
full
today
for
major
maintenance
work
and
would
require
investment
to
meet
the
growing
demands
of
international
rail.

‘The
options
could
help
create
some
capacity,
but
this
would
not
be
enough
to
accommodate
the
stated
ambitions
of
any
single
operator.
This
includes
the
three
organisations
who
have
applied
to
the
regulator
and
the
needs
of
Eurostar
itself.

‘We
believe
the
conversation
now
needs
to
move
beyond
the
inadequate
space
within
the
existing
depot
to
look
at
the
bigger
picture.’

Virgin
Group
said:
‘Finally
a
green
signal
for
competition.
The
Temple
Mills
depot
is
the
only
facility
in
the
UK
which
can
accommodate
European-style
trains
and
claims
suggesting
it
was
at
capacity
have
been
blocking
Virgin
from
coming
to
the
line.

‘Virgin
is
therefore
very
pleased
with
the
outcome.
There
are
no
more
major
hurdles
to
overcome,
and
Virgin
is
ready
to
take
up
the
challenge.
We
expect
to
be
able
to
make
an
announcement
very
soon.
Watch
this
space.’

Gemini
said
it
was
pleased
that
the
review
‘has
demonstrated
that
there
is
capacity
available
for
Gemini’s
services,
both
inside
the
depot,
and
for
stabling
outside’.

Spanish
Evolyn
has
also
unveiled
a
proposal
to
start
services
between
London
and
Paris
using
Alstom
rolling
stock,
but
has
not
commented.

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