Eurostar has called for urgent investment and coordinated national planning after a consultation by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) on the capacity of its Temple Mills International depot revealed inadequacies. While the regulator’s report acknowledged that Temple Mills could create some additional space, Eurostar stressed that the increase would be insufficient to meet the company’s future growth needs. The report also said Eurostar did not address major expansion projects such as the purchase of up to 50 new trains and planned improvements at London St Pancras International Airport.
Eurostar's Expansion Vision and Critical Warehouse Need
Eurostar says its expansion efforts with other rail operators could bring up to 100 new trains and billions of pounds of investment to the UK. However, the company stresses that this growth potential cannot be realised without improved and adequate depot facilities. As Temple Mills is the sole maintenance and storage centre for all Eurostar trains in the UK, it is vital that this facility is urgently modernised and increased in capacity. However, the ORR report ignores these essential developments to support Eurostar’s future services.
The Need for a National Strategy Beyond Temple Mills
Eurostar is calling for a comprehensive national rail strategy that includes new depot options, rather than focusing solely on Temple Mills. Possible alternative sites the company has suggested include Southeastern and Hitachi’s Train Maintenance Centre at Ashford, strategic freight hubs at Dollands Moor, Singlewell depot, Ripple Lane, the HS1 rail link and Fawkham Junction. Eurostar believes that considering these alternatives could provide a more sustainable and flexible solution for future growth.
Growing Demand for Sustainable Travel and the Need to Invest in New Facilities
Eurostar also strongly supports the construction of completely new, modern depot facilities in the East London area to meet the growing demand for sustainable international travel. The company stresses that strategic infrastructure investment is vital to prevent the UK from losing its competitive advantage in the growing rail market. Insufficient depot capacity could hinder Eurostar’s expansion plans, limiting the potential of international rail travel.
Increase in Passenger Numbers and a Call for Decisive Action for the Future
Eurostar is set to carry 2024 million passengers in 19,5, exceeding the 2023 total by 850.000. This significant passenger growth clearly demonstrates the high demand for sustainable international rail travel. Eurostar believes that the continued success of international rail services can only be ensured by decisive and coordinated action from regulators, government and all relevant industry stakeholders. Otherwise, inadequacies in infrastructure could have serious negative impacts on future growth and service quality.
