Vision:
International rail
- Last update: 27/07/2024
- Version: v1.1
We believe a viable medium- and long-term alternative to air and road travel abroad is to enhance our international rail links.
![Intro](https://enroutecic.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/1ymeibetqj4.jpg)
International rail in Kent
Enroute supports the reintroduction of some form of international European rail service to Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International, to act as a regional hub for international rail across South West London, Kent and Sussex.
New Europe-bound routes
We support the development and introduction of new European-bound routes from London through various operators including in competition to Eurostar, such as direct routes to Frankfurt, Marseille, Barcelona and Milan via Disneyland Paris, Lyon, Turin and Montpellier.
We also support proposals for night train routes from London to destinations in mainland Europe such as Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Munich, Milan, Zurich, Barcelona and Madrid.
International rail in other UK cities
We support the concept of serving other UK cities including Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow with international rail services (potentially including night services) utilising classic and potential new high speed rail infrastructure.
We acknowledge three main limitations with this approach:
- Border policy (juxtaposed border controls);
- Security requirements; and
- Channel tunnel rolling stock regulations
These routes would complement those serving London.
Enroute would support further research into the case for enhanced cross-channel rail (extending both beyond London and beyond Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam) and overcoming the above limitations through technological innovation, policy change.
We are supportive of a rail link in some form between HS1 and HS2 to enable through international services to other UK cities.
- Bring Back Euro Trains website
- Will there be a direct train from [insert city] to London through the Channel Tunnel? Probably not - Jon Worth
- The future of long distance train services through the Channel Tunnel - Jon Worth
- International travel: make rail the easy choice - Campaign for Better Transport
- Plane Speaking: Moving journeys from air to rail - Campaign for Better Transport
- How to win air travellers to rail - Greengauge 21 / High Speed Rail Group
- 27th July 2024: Added support for a rail link between HS1 and HS2.
- 22nd July 2024: Initial publication