Channel Tunnel international rail expansion opportunities

The Channel Tunnel is an iconic example of visionary transport infrastructure, directly linking the UK and EU together and bringing huge opportunities for economic growth, environmental modal shift and strengthening of diplomatic ties as the UK resets our ties with the EU as critical allies. 

However the Channel Tunnel is woefully underutilised, the UK is wasting a crucial asset and losing growth opportunities as a result. With a relatively small amount of investment, and policy and diplomatic work in line with the EU/ UK reset the Channel Tunnel could reach its full potential, bringing environmentally friendly growth to the UK and reducing the need for unnecessary, expensive and polluting airport expansion.

KEY STATS AT A GLANCE

Underused tracks
 
● Eurotunnel confirmed 50% of passenger rail capacity is currently underutilized, therefore there is a huge potential for an increase in passenger services.
● Only 10% of rail freight is used, one million tonnes of goods, whereas the potential is estimated at 10 million tonnes.

Underused stations

● Only one of the UK’s four international rail stations are currently operational.
● St Pancras is open and overcrowded, but the UK’s second London station, Stratford International, has never run international services. 
● Ashford and Ebbfleet International have not been used for international rail services since 2020. £80 million of infrastructure investment in these stations has been wasted. 

Passenger demand: growth opportunities

● In and out-bound international rail passenger demand is likely to increase from the current 11.2 million in both directions to up to 28.5 million by 2040 – 2.5 times the current volume of passengers by 2040.
● London High Speed St Pancras estimates that demand for international rail travel from the UK is expected to triple over the next 15 years.
● Trenitalia and Virgin are set to run services from London as early as 2029 and 2030, which could increase services to 21 million passengers annually.

What has Eurostar’s economic impact been so far?

●  2.8bn of Eurostar's economic contribution in the UK by 2035.
●  Eurostar supported almost £2bn of GVA in the UK in 2025 and 23,000 jobs
●  40,000 new jobs supported by Eurostar by 2035. 
●  New Eurostar services from London to Frankfurt and Geneva could save the need for 20 short haul flights daily from London airports.

T&E Policy recommendations

●  Fund the re-opening of Ashford and Ebbsfleet stations to support the South East economy
●  Fund the opening of Stratford International as a second station for London to ease St Pancras overcrowding and facilitate more passenger travel onwards across the UK
●  Set a clear timeline for opening all four international stations, and opening depots to allow more operators access to the Channel Tunnel
●  Set ambitious international rail passenger targets in the Long Term Rail Strategy as a means of tying the EU and UK back together in the UK/ EU reset.

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