DavidB-AU Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 (edited) Spain’s state-owned train company Renfe is looking at operating a new high-speed rail link between London and Paris, a move that would place it in direct competition with Eurostar. https://www.ft.com/content/ba9197f8-5232-4f21-9e7b-0378a687733e Edited October 26, 2021 by DavidB-AU 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted October 27, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 27, 2021 Sounds interesting, but the pinkie wants me to subscribe to read it? Not that interesting.... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wasabi Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 Other publications have what seems to be the same story, including that RENFE would, as a second phase, want to extend to other European cities. Not mentioned (as far as I can see) is how more passengers can be fitted into the existing termini - especially Gare du Nord, which used to have rather long queues at times, or where RENFE plans to keep its trains at night. Would a Stratford International to Charles de Gaulle service make sense? It would to me, because I live in East London, but then so do a lot of other people as well as those who work here. For Paris, CdG has good links and an express service into the centre is proposed - it would also be better for through services to other cities. Overall, there could be something in RENFE's ideas, as long as they don't just want to copy what is already there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 If it keeps Eurostar honest, I'm all in favour of it. Whether SNCF (read - the French authorities) will allow it is, as they say, another matter... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Welly Posted October 27, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 27, 2021 Gauge conversion will be an issue.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Jeremy Cumberland Posted October 27, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 27, 2021 17 minutes ago, Welly said: Gauge conversion will be an issue.... Between London and Paris? I am a little behind in keeping up with Spanish standard gauge developments, but since you can get to Barcelona by TGV, I would not be at all surprised if you can get all the way to Madrid, or to Malaga without needing to go through the 00 to EM conversion shed. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allegheny1600 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 39 minutes ago, Welly said: Gauge conversion will be an issue.... errrr, no! Spain’s high speed trains and lines are generally standard gauge - it makes everything so much easier. Therefore operation can happen throughout the rest of the European continent. The signalling systems onboard are a different matter however. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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