by george matthews
http://www.eurotunnel.com/ukcP3Main/ukc ... hSpeedLine
There may be some electoral stuff here. The city of Amiens wanted the original line which went through Lille instead (a more important city). But Amiens would certainly be a more direct route for direct London-Paris services.
I would imagine this route would eliminate even more of the air competition than the existing route which already has more than 50% of the total passengers.
Eurotunnel welcomes the announcement made today, 14 November 2006, in Amiens (France) by President Chirac requesting the setting up, by the end of this year of a public enquiry into the proposed high speed rail line between London and Paris via the Channel Tunnel and Amiens*, with a full public debate in the second half of 2007.This would be a second route to add to the existing LGV Nord via Lille.
Eurotunnel, who, at its own request in April 2005, became a member of the steering committee responsible for preparing such public consultation, fully supports this project, which will reduce travel time between London and Paris to 2 hours.
This new line, which is a strategic element in the trans-European rail network, should lead to an increase in traffic through the Channel Tunnel.
There may be some electoral stuff here. The city of Amiens wanted the original line which went through Lille instead (a more important city). But Amiens would certainly be a more direct route for direct London-Paris services.
I would imagine this route would eliminate even more of the air competition than the existing route which already has more than 50% of the total passengers.
