[AMcWhirter]

There have been ‘paper’ airlines for a number of years. Few have ever started operations.

Now it’s the turn of ‘paper’ rail operators.

Over the past few weeks (including today) there have been no fewer than three different firms who have appeared to challenge Eurostar’s long-standing monopoly.

Today it’s the turn of father and son van den Biggelaar of the Netherlands.

Heuro wants both to operate with Eurostar (now merged with Thalys) Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris as well as competing with Eurostar via the Tunnel to London.

If approved the services would launch in a few years’ time.

Mark Smith of Seat61 fame says “Please form an orderly queue. First Evolyn, then Virgin and new Heuro all want to compete with Eurostar to London. Will any see the light of day ?”

https://www.railtech.com/all/2023/11/14/new-dutch-player-heuro-to-compete-with-eurostar-to-lower-prices/

[WilliamRead]

Eurostar has been running for many years; what has happened to encourage so many “new” companies to enter this market in recent months

[AMcWhirter]

Yes WilliamRead … Eurostar has held a monopoly since 1994.

“What has happened to encourage so many new companies to enter the market” ?

It’s because the EU wants to liberalise rail within Europe and especially cross-border travel.

Hence 2021 was the European Year of Rail.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20210107STO95106/2021-the-european-year-of-rail

It means there’s more chance that newcomers will gain the right to compete.

But it’s a slow process.

Check the many pieces we have published about domestic rail travel within Spain, Trenitalia competing with SNCF on Milan-Paris and the competition in the night train markets.

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cwoodward

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