Companies which want to run international trains from London are calling for ‘urgent action’ to secure investment in increased depot capacity to allow more Channel Tunnel trains.

The Office of Rail and Road has concluded that capacity at the present Temple Mills depot in east London would allow only one additional operator to Eurostar, which has occupied the site since 2007.

Eurostar is now facing several potential competitors who want to run international services between London and the continent, but it is not clear where their trains could be stabled and maintained.

Aspiring international operators Evolyn, Gemini, Trenitalia and Virgin joined Eurostar, London St Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel at a meeting convened by Labour MP Calvin Bailey, who represents Leyton and Wanstead and whose constituency includes Temple Mills depot.

He said: ‘This is such an exciting agenda that could bring billions to the UK. What we’ve heard proves that investors are queueing up to access this growth opportunity. All they need is the certainty that Temple Mills can provide the necessary depot capacity, and I will continue to work with the government to facilitate this.’

The meeting heard that international passenger numbers could more than double over the next fifteen years, bringing over £1 billion in extra tourist income a year to Britain.

London St Pancras Highspeed, formerly HS1, says it already achieves annual economic benefits worth £427 million, although it only runs at 50 per cent of the route’s capacity, and rail expansion supports the key national objective of increased economic growth through closer European relationships, including commitments made in the UK-Germany treaty signed in July this year and the UK-Switzerland agreement signed in May. Reports show a ‘clear potential’ for a 25-50 per cent modal shift from air to high-speed rail.

The Government was represented at the meeting by the transport secretary’s parliamentary private secretary Liam Conlon MP and Benn Hall, who is head of international rail at the Department for Transport. 

In the coming weeks, the Office of Rail and Road is due to publish its final determination on access for train operating companies to Temple Mills. This could allow investment commitments for new trains by the end of this year. In parallel, the Department for Transport is assessing options for further expansion of Temple Mills so that international rail services can grow.

London St Pancras Highspeed chief commercial officer Wendy Spinks said: ‘It is incredibly positive to see the momentum behind expanding cross-Channel rail services. We have a real opportunity to boost the UK economy. Growing high-speed rail links to  Europe will benefit passengers, cut emissions and create jobs in the area. We have ambitious plans as do all of the train operators and with timely decisions to allow investment, we can turn this potential opportunity into reality.’

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