“Virgin signs a contract for 12 new trains to compete in Eurostar. ALSTOM will provide Sir Richard Branson’s company.” This is the title of a Times article published last week, suggesting that Virgin has further advanced in his project, officially announced last January.
Except that in reality, no firm order has been signed and for a good reason. Contacted by BFM Business, Alstom explains that while the British office of Rail and Road (ORR) has not decided which new operator can access the Temple Mills deposit, in eastern London, the only one in the country that can receive high -speed trains that circulate under the channel, nothing can be concluded.
Especially because several players are running to break the Eurostar monopoly: the British Gemini trains, Evolyn, a consortium piloted by Mobico (ex-British National Express), the rail of the Stato (FS), Heuro, a Dutch startup or the Spensiard Renfe. Without forgetting Eurostar, which will increase the number of your trains in circulation.
And only a new operator can enter the fight until this deposit is expanded. The regulator’s decision is expected in autumn.
Alstom explains that he has in fact signed “a restrictive exclusivity” with Virgin. Clearly, if Virgin is chosen by the British regulator, a firm command can be signed at the pace given the strength of the Virgin project.
“We are not here to copy”
In fact, the company is very advanced in its ambition to link London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam since 2030. Virgin claims to be about to finish an investment of 700 million pounds sterling (in capital and debt) and its offer of services has been formalized and presented before the orr.
In times, Richard Branson assures him: “We are preparing to alter the rail transport of Trans -Travement. For too long, passengers have not had the option and even less pleasure. We are not here to copy. We are there to improve standards, stimulate innovation and offer people a better way to travel.”
Once again, Virgin Orchestra a beautiful communication operation that allows it to appear as the strongest project, the fastest to start, sending a signal to the regulator.
Even so, if Virgn signs with Alstom, his goal of launching in 2030 seems ambitious in the eyes of experts. The company has chosen a model derived from the Avelia Alstom current that rolls at 250 km/h. However, this model must adapt to circulate in the manga tunnel at 300 km/hy obtain a dedicated approval. For experts, this phase will take between five and seven years.
Source: BFM TV
