As lockdown restrictions ease and we start to consider travelling again, the future of cross-Channel operator Eurostar remains uncertain.
Eurostar is seeking financial support from the UK Government, citing higher access charges here as a reason.
The French Government has pledged to provide support for the operator, while £200 million has been provided by one of its shareholders, Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec (CDPQ) and Hermes Infrastructure.
Registered in the UK and supporting 3,000 jobs either with the business or in the supply chain, the company is, however, 55% owned by SNCF (French state rail), 40% by CDPQ/Hermes and 5% by SNCB (Belgian state railways).
So: Should the UK Government provide financial assistance to Eurostar?
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Eight-car Class 385 trains were due to be introduced on the Edinburgh-Glasgow route from next week.
Using ‘385/1s’, the trains are able to operate following platform extension work. Their introduction comes shortly after the first anniversary of the first trains entering traffic on July 24 2018. Sixty-two of the 70 electrics are now in traffic with ScotRail.
Our Head of News, Richard joined RAIL in 2005 from local press, where he had been working since 2002. He covers all aspects of news for the magazine and website, specialising in operations and rolling stock.
RAIL is Britain's market leading modern railway magazine.
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Comments
Mr Stephen P Mackay - 25/07/2019 02:35
What about FIFE We get the dodgie old ones. When do we get upgrade
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AndrewJG8918 - 28/07/2019 00:19
When will 8 more Class 385s begin service which will make the total of 70 Class 385s on the ScotRail network. Plus with 10 more additional Class 385/0s to be built if the ScotRail franchise extends. Which will make the total of 80 Class 385s.
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