Channel Tunnel could shut out rail competitors

The Group is ‘outraged’ to learn that several Members of the European Parliament are proposing that the Channel Tunnel should not have to comply with European railway law.

Amendments proposed to the text of the ‘Recast of the First Railway Package’, would exempt Eurotunnel from all of the requirements of liberalisation, including fair and open access, interoperability, and equitable charging.

RFG understands that the justification given for this is that Eurotunnel is a private company and as such, the rules should not apply. It adds, “This is certainly a curious legal interpretation and one which, if accurate, would have wide-reaching consequences across the UK rail network and beyond”.