The return of the sleeper?

[Starmill]

Oh dear - I didn't think I was changing the subject; nor was I trying to have a discussion about EU issues etc. I was simply trying to point out (because Shengen had been mentioned in the context of this thread, and you're referred to the argments of the last four years) that the arguments over EU membership in recent years weren't primarily about Shengen - hence the problems (for things like international sleeper trains) of the UK not being inside Shengen were unlikely to be much different whether with the UK inside or outside the EU.

In other words, it's the border check problem, rather than EU membership per se, which seems to make it difficult to have sleeper trains under the Channel. Of course it's possible to be outside the EU but within Shengen. (Not that that's a political runner here.)

I'm already aware of all of this, suffice to say I understand the technical details in at least the outline sense you've described. But if I were to respond comprehensively about the link between border controls and immigration policy and a trade policy there would probably be an almighty row and there would certainly be a lot of off-topic conversation.

 

[popeter45]

The timings simply wouldn’t work for a sleeper to Spain. Too far.

not too Far if using a High speed EMU on LGV lines like what china does with the CRH1E
take a old TGV POS or Euroduplex, refit as a sleeper and boom a high speed sleeper

 

[Bald Rick]

not too Far if using a High speed EMU on LGV lines like what china does with the CRH1E
take a old TGV POS or Euroduplex, refit as a sleeper and boom a high speed sleeper

The LGVs are all closed overnight - some as early as 2230. They’d have to go ‘classique’ to Perpignan; you’d be looking at a journey time of around 15 hours to Barcelona.