Cross Channel (Chunnel) Metro

[anme]

You missed out the safety regulations, which currently prevent any running of commuter-type train sets through the Channel Tunnel. Plus Eurotunnel's monopoly pricing of track access. Also I suspect that SNCF might not play nicely if the service ran to Lille.

Indeed - safety regulations would also need to be changed. Eurotunnel might be supportive if the extra revenue didn't lead to declines elsewhere (which it probably wouldn't) and if there is spare capacity (which I believe there is).

I agree, as things stand it isn't likely to happen, but for me, Kent-based commuters sharing carriage with day-trippers to London from northern France is the way things should be. And it would annoy the hell out of Nigel Farage!

Agree. I think it would be a great thing. And annoying the hell out of UKIP would be a very enjoyable extra benefit.

 

[jopsuk]

If we could remove the border control issues, and work around/design around the safety issues, then a "Folkestone Parkway" at the Eurotunnel site would be a smart move perhaps?

 

[TheKnightWho]

Agree. I think it would be a great thing. And annoying the hell out of UKIP would be a very enjoyable extra benefit.

Indeed. Nigel Farage - the man so English he pronounces his name in the French style.

 

[cle]

It seems odd that it is possible to travel by train between London and Paris, but not between Ashford and Calais.

Except that they are the two most improtant capitals in Europe, with centuries of history with one another and tons of economic, social and political links.

Whereas the other two are two random towns in neighbouring countries. One a rail town, one a port. Not even Dover/Calais!

It's like saying how it's weird there are trains from London to Manchester, but not from Leighton Buzzard to Cheadle Hulme.

 

[ainsworth74]

Except that they are the two most improtant capitals in Europe, with centuries of history with one another and tons of economic, social and political links.

I think Berlin might be a little hurt by being excluded from that club!

 

[cgcenet]

Whereas the other two are two random towns in neighbouring countries. One a rail town, one a port. Not even Dover/Calais!

Not "random". Ashford and Calais are the closest stations on either side of the Channel Tunnel (with facilities allowing international trains to stop). One would logically expect to be possible to travel directly between the two quickly and easily, much as you can between, say, Didcot Parkway and Swindon.

It's like saying how it's weird there are trains from London to Manchester, but not from Leighton Buzzard to Cheadle Hulme.

Poor analogy, as these settlements are a long distance from each other, and are not adjacent stations on a fast main line. And actually it's not at all difficult to travel by train between the two stations you mention. Of course you have to take local connecting trains at each end of the journey on the fast train, but (i) you are always travelling in roughly the right direction (you don't have to double back via London or Manchester), (ii) there are frequent connecting services, and (iii) the fare is appropriate for the journey (cheaper than London–Manchester).

To understand my point about the lack of a local cross-Channel service, imagine if trains from London Paddington to South Wales or SW England stopped infrequently at Reading, Didcot and Swindon, with none stopping at all three, and there was no local service connecting them. [Using the Great Western line as an example rather than your West Coast just because I know it better.]

 

[Clip]

I think the idea is a good one but is there enough padding in the timetable to allow it with the turnaround at Calais as its only 2 platforms or would they build some sort of bay platform for it?

 

[JamesRowden]

If we could remove the border control issues, and work around/design around the safety issues, then a "Folkestone Parkway" at the Eurotunnel site would be a smart move perhaps?

I think that a 4tph Sandling to Calais shuttle service with border control might not be too complicated. To increase the connecting mainline service between Ashford, Sandling and Dover: the London Bridge/Victoria to Tonbridge via Redhill service could be extended to Dover; and a Victoria to Ashford via Maidstone service could be extended to Dover. This would produce a total of 4tph between Ashford and Dover (since Southeastern are planning to reduce Charing Cross to Dover through services to 1tph).

Sandling station is right next to the M20 and so it could be converted into a Parkway station.

If a good transport interchange is available at Calais (including intercity services), this would probably mean that no international services would need to call at Ashford and Platforms 3 and 4 could then be used to cope with future domestic demand.

One issue which would need answering is whether there is enough capacity in the Channel Tunnel for 'local' services that would be shorter than the other services that use it.

 

[Bald Rick]

One issue that would need answering is who would use a 4tph Ashford - Calais service. Or even a 4tpd Ashford - Calais service?

 

[JamesRowden]

One issue that would need answering is who would use a 4tph Ashford - Calais service. Or even a 4tpd Ashford - Calais service?

I was suggesting a Sandling - Calais service. An answer to your question is someone who wants travel by rail (without a car) between the UK and France without having to book in advance or being tied to a particular train. Perhaps I was suggesting a frequency greater than there is demand for.

 

[cgcenet]

It is very difficult to know the demand until the service actually starts running. When new train routes have been started in the UK in recent years, the take-up has typically been much higher than expect. For a cross-Channel passenger shuttle service, the potential customers stretch well beyond just southern Kent and Nord Pas-de-Calais. And remember that the service itself would create demand. For instance, it would be possible to commute daily by train between France and SE England, which it is not at present, so British people working in SE England would consider moving to Calais, and French would be able to take jobs in UK and take the train in every day.
The Channel Tunnel is running well below capacity, so that is not an issue. I imagine that this sort of service would start by being every 2 hours throughout the day with maybe additional trains during the morning and evening peaks. See how it goes from there. I think there would turn out to be demand for a more frequent service, if the fares and connections were right.