Deutsche Bahn outlines Channel Tunnel plans

GERMAN rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, has unveiled plans to offer services between London, Frankfurt and Amsterdam by 2013 using the Channel Tunnel.

It has already started testing the route with an ICE3 train, due to arrive at London St Pancras for a demonstration today. Deutsche Bahn said it also planned to offer services to Brussels, Cologne and Rotterdam. However, it must secure safety approval from Channel Tunnel safety authorities before it can proceed but the rail operator is confident of doing so ahead of the proposed launch. Deutsche Bahn wants to offer passengers direct services from London three times a day. All trains would depart from London before splitting at Brussels. The journey to Amsterdam is expected to take around four hours, with Frankfurt around five hours away.

At present Eurostar is the only passenger service operating in the Channel Tunnel. However Channel Tunnel operator, Eurotunnel, has confirmed it is currently running at just half its maximum capacity.

An ICE3 train operated by Deutsche Bahn entered the Channel Tunnel for the first time on October 13 and an in-tunnel evacuation test took place on Sunday. Deutsche Bahn has been carrying out safety tests this week to assess the feasibility of the proposals.