Competition set to hot up on cross-Channel rail services in 2010

The opening up of the Channel Tunnel to other rail operators in 2010 will bring about the same levels of competition as at airport hubs, WTM delegates were told.

Speaking at an airline debate, Virgin Atlantic director of communications Paul Charles, formerly head of communications for Eurostar, said several other rail operators will begin cross Channel services, including Virgin Rail and Deutsche Bahn.

You will see the same level of competition that you see at Heathrow today," he predicted in advance of Eurostar services switching to London St Pancras from Waterloo today (Wednesday).

Airlines said they were looking at ways to work with rail services to provide a fuller network for their passengers, through codeshares on rail services.

British Airways head of Terminal 5 development, Jonathon Counsell, said BA had investigated the feasibility of linking T5 with the Eurostar in the early development stages.

"But because of the length of the Eurostar trains, with 18 carriages, it was impossible," he explained.

Virgin's Charles said the onus was on the airlines to consider whether they would be better off focusing on other routes, rather than trying to compete on routes well served by rail services.

"Maybe we will see more of that with Open Skies," he added. By Bev Fearis for Travel Mole Travel Mole website.

Published: 15.11.2007