New operator Evolyn has announced plans to introduce a new high-speed service on the London – Paris route through the Channel Tunnel in 2025, which would make it a direct competitor to Eurostar.
Evolyn intends to implement direct, non-stop services between Paris Gare du Nord and London Saint Pancras. The group assures that it intends to launch its first services in 2025 and that it will complete its fleet in 2026. Evolyn has reached an agreement with Alstom to acquire twelve trains from the Avelya range, expandable to sixteen units, which will be able to begin circulating in 2025.
Evolyn aims to offer an alternative to the more than 11 million annual passengers who travel by train between the United Kingdom and different countries in the European Union, a strategic and high-demand connection that currently only has one operator. The Evolyn project, which has been in development for three years, involves a total estimated investment of 1,000 million pounds, about 1,150 million euros, is led by the Spanish Cosmen family and has the support of British and French industrial and financial partners.
Cut of services
Since Brexit, Eurostar operators have been forced to cut daily services between London and Paris by up to a third to avoid long queues at checkpoints in both cities, due to increased checks. This, together with the Eurostar operator’s debt, which is largely linked to the pandemic, has driven up ticket prices.
In this scenario, Evolyn aims to offer a “modern, innovative and sustainable” option with “the best quality offer at competitive prices”, in a strategic line and in high demand both in Great Britain and in continental European countries.
