high speed railway service connecting london brussels paris trains traverse united_kingdom france owned operated separately london terminus british calling points kent calling points france trains paris terminating trains belgium terminate station brussels addition limited services london paris services southern france seasonal services alps winter service operated eighteen coach class trains run kilometres hour mph network high speed lines line france opened services began newer lines enabling faster journeys added later belgium high speed southern england french belgian parts network shared paris services trains united_kingdom stage project completed november renamed high speed london terminus transferred international international operated jointly national railway companies france belgium ltd subsidiary london continental railways owned high speed infrastructure stations british dominant operator routes operates carrying passengers combined operators expressed interest starting competing services following september incorporated single corporate entity called replacing joint operation owned june transferred london october announced government planned raise million selling stake march government announced selling share anglo canadian consortium sale goes ahead ownership placement history conception planning history traced choice rail tunnel provide cross channel link britain france previous attempt constructing tunnel nations begun quickly aborted construction began new basis created manage tunnel finished official opening taking place addition tunnel shuttle trains carrying cars decision build railway tunnel opened possibility passenger freight train services places contracted use half tunnel capacity purpose britain france belgium set specify train provide international high speed passenger service tunnel france operating high speed services begun construction new high speed line paris french technology chosen basis new trains order manufactured france british belgian components placed december june test train travelled tunnel technical difficulties running new trains british tracks quickly overcome launch service november services began station london paris brussels south railway station brussels achieving average end end speed mph london paris january launched services second railway station opened journey times london brussels reduced opening december september passenger services began running completed section high speed following high profile glamorous opening ceremony large advertising campaign november services london transferred extended extensively refurbished records achieved services holds record having longest section world second longest rail tunnel world train set new british speed record mph section high speed july months services began running section high speed set new record longest non stop high speed journey distance kilometres london cannes taking hours minutes september record breaking train left paris reached hours minutes seconds carrying journalists railway workers train passenger carrying arrival international station september broke record completed journey brussels london hour minutes original proposals included direct services paris brussels cities north london manchester birmingham glasgow edinburgh newcastle york seven shorter trains services built services ran predicted journey times hours glasgow paris time growth low cost air travel 1990s plans commercially cheaper quicker reasons suggested services having run government policies regional units leased increase domestic services cross york later leeds ended december sets transferred services northern france international sleeper train planned travelled routes regional plus cardiff deemed commercially scheme abandoned services operated coaches sold rail canada station station original station services kent railway station designed serve kent region opened trains day paris paris called considerable time fears services reduced withdrawn altogether planned new regional hub instead period brussels trains served station dissatisfaction local communities february introduced single daily service mainline routes french kilometre high speed rail line connects paris belgian border opened extensions belgium paris connecting journey undertaken belgian high speed line added end belgian border french high speed lines sees widest variety high speed rolling stock busy proposed cut bypassing reduce journey times paris called crucial route rail connection great_britain european mainland joins france high speed britain began kilometre tunnel officially opened british sovereign french president ceremony owned charges significant toll use identified tunnel current route service line speeds kilometres hour mph reduced speed kilometres hour mph applies safety reasons launch services severe caused fires breaking minor journey times london brussels improved kilometre belgian high speed line opened december links border france allowing trains heading brussels transition having reduce speed minute improvement london brussels trains achieved december opening metre brussels south linking international platforms brussels south railway station high speed line separates local services high speed high speed known kilometre high speed railway line running london kent british end built stages section tunnel north kent opened september cutting london paris journey times minutes hours minutes london brussels hours minutes november commercial services began new line redeveloped international station new london terminus services completion high speed brought british route standards french belgian high speed lines non stop journey times reduced minutes hours minutes london paris hour minutes london brussels services frequency offers sixteen weekday london paris services eighteen including non stop london brussels services including running non stop far reduced seven way addition return trip london paris runs times week increased frequency school holidays times week service seasonal services winter snow trains aimed alps run twice weekly overnight daytime intermediate stations northwest kent southeast kent november trains routed high speed redeveloped london terminus international cost million extensively rebuilt extended cope metre long trains originally intended retain services terminal ruled cost grounds completion high speed increased potential number trains serving london separation british domestic services kent meant longer affected peak hour restrictions significantly higher early years fare return planning cheaper example offer day returns london paris brussels march fare return available year june announced way single available competition airline services large factor ticket prices reduced initial levels business premier slightly air similar routes targeted regular business travellers greatly increased budget ticket availability help maintain grow dominant market share system complex distributed fewer individual sales systems member distribution system making tickets available alongside worldwide class called benefits include guaranteed faster checking meals served seat improved interior business premier carriages marketing drive attract business professionals increasingly business people group private carriages opposed individual seats train service connections operation services rest britain developed connections transport services instead integrating effectively traditional rail operators schedules routes making possible passengers use quick connection destinations continent main service international served domestic trains local urban transport networks london underground paris metro standard tickets longer include free onward connections station belgium available flat rate supplement currently announced partnerships rail services notably connections brussels passengers current routes netherlands germany initiated plus program offering connecting tickets onward journeys paris dozens destinations france available british towns cities destinations france belgium announced formal connection switzerland established partnership operate services swiss alps connection controls security belgium france passengers border controls governments concerned belgium france legal obligations check travel documents entering respective countries leaving case belgium france allow passengers walk train arrival cases passport controls place station order comply special legislation security checks similar airports scanning bags people pockets security checks comparable small airport generally quicker london recommended check time minutes business class minutes passengers travelling inside mainly brussels brussels checked border force belgian territory way separating brussels london passengers agreements signed said questions compatibility agreement principle free movement people european treaties june raised concerns illegal french law collection information desired government borders scheme unable cooperate facility security checks example northbound service passengers leave train undergo security passport checks train occasions people illegally tried away board train large groups trying enter border monitoring security extremely tight claims good funded security measures operational performance fluctuated year year usually remains quarter services operated time second quarter reached best record august time quarter services compared rival air routes advantage held convenience speed service shorter check times airports quicker boarding high takes time travel central london central paris high speed rail air dominant share combined rail air market routes paris brussels share london paris market share london brussels market achieved record market shares london paris london brussels routes passenger numbers initially failed meet predictions london forecast passenger numbers reach million annually million achieved million passengers opening closure record year rise passenger use attributed use high speed following year saw fall passenger numbers months attributed fire recession result poor economic conditions received state aid cancel accumulated debt high speed construction programme later year snowy conditions run christmas thousands passengers left stranded trains broke cancelled independent review commissioned company came criticism handling incident lack plans scenario predicted annual cross channel passenger numbers probably reach million considerably optimistic london original forecast set target carrying million passengers company cited factors support objective improved journey times station facilities passengers general stated increasingly aware environmental effects air travel services carbon dioxide remaining carbon emissions offset making services carbon neutral expansion high speed rail network europe line belgium netherlands continues bring destinations rail competitive range giving possibility opening new services future following chart presents estimated number passengers annually transported service millions awards accolades hailed having set new standards international rail travel won praise times recognising high standards won train operator year award declared joint previously struggled reputation brand image commentator defined situation time june battling recover worst period year history negative media coverage combined poor sales general public low opinion british rail industry created major challenge finding difficult pick worst periods decade long history period post sent business passenger numbers drying worries international travel management changes led pause strategy suffered badly wider problems rail infrastructure environmental credentials highly developed promoted environment group set aim making changes services daily running decrease environmental impact organisation setting target reducing carbon emissions passenger journey drivers trained techniques achieve maximum energy efficiency lighting provider bulk energy switched nuclear power stations france current target reduce emissions percent passenger journey putting efforts railway companies field winning network rail efficiency award grand opening ceremony trains given said smaller impact environment compared planes organisation owned company jointly owned railways member marketing alliance formed july seven european high speed rail operators including alliance plans allow tickets booked end europe single website june london operations held ownership fully government fleet fleet details addition multiple unit fleet units operates single class diesel pilot depot current fleet class built fleet consists trains designated class united_kingdom france units branded variants sets consisting power cars eighteen passenger carriages trains metres long carry passengers class standard class shorter north london sets power cars fourteen passenger carriages metres long sets capacity seats class standard designed operate aborted services trains essentially modified sets operate kilometres hour mph high speed lines kilometres hour mph possible exceed kilometre hour speed limit special permission safety authorities respective country speed limits dictated air resistance energy heat dissipation need fit slower trains trains designed safety mind consist independent half sets power car event fire board travelling tunnel passengers transferred undamaged half train detached driven tunnel safety undamaged rear half train driven chef train fully authorised driver occupies rear driving cab train travels tunnel purpose sets sufficient operate service currently domestic services regularly operates paris shuttle removed sets base colours white black yellow remain lease sets scheduled option years train unique digit number starting train mark mark second digit denotes country ownership belgium france regional fleet updates inter capital sets daily use international services refurbished new interior designed original grey yellow scheme standard class grey red replaced grey brown look standard grey burnt orange class power points added seats class coaches standard class premium class renamed announced carrying mid life refurbishment class trains allow fleet remain service include units making fleet class units seven class north london sets refurbishment italian company contracted redesign interiors yard creative selected design new cars revealed new look class compartments refurbished train service plans completed entire process november announced refurbished trains enter fleet 3rd 4th quarter delays completion centre class addition announced mid life update existing class fleet reportedly entered bids new purchased new trains need meet safety rules governing passage existing class fleet replacement class trains decided jointly new trains equipped use new cab signalling system fitted high speed october reported selected preferred supply cost million total investment million refurbishment existing fleet included operate expanded route network including services london cologne amsterdam sixteen car metre long built meet current regulations speed mph seats unlike current fleet built french company speed mph seating capacity total traction power rated nomination break french high speed market time french french subsidiary high speed operators use derivatives produced attempted legal action prevent acquiring german built trains claiming sets ordered breach safety rules thrown court said high_court defeat pursue alternative legal options uphold position november company lodged complaint process asked british government announced started legal action high_court london july high_court rejected claim tender process ineffective april said pending court actions effectively freed way build new trains expected enter service late november announced purchase additional seven delivery second half time announced original order available december remaining entering service sets ready december planned london paris london brussels routes past fleet accidents incidents events number technical incidents affected services years present major accident involving service operated june incidents channel tunnel fires affected services directly related operations tunnel resulted cessation service thousands passengers run christmas proved public relations disaster minor incidents minor incidents services october problems relating start operations preview train carrying members press media delayed hours technical problems train initially sent wrong line railway station instead causing service arrive minutes late signalling error led incorrect stated caused risk result april house collapsed railway line near london caused services terminate start instead passengers waiting international initially directed local trains leaving adjacent london railway station occurred approximately passengers trapped darkness hours inside trains night february trains stopped inside tunnels electronic failures caused snow ice questions raised time ability train tunnel electronics withstand mix snow salt ice collect tunnels periods extreme cold june train travelling paris london high speed line traveling mph fourteen people treated light injuries shock fatalities major injuries articulated nature credited maintaining stability incident train stayed upright incident caused traction link second power car coming loose leading components transmission system track departures november coincided open ended strike french rail unions general strike actions proposed public sector pension reforms trains operated british employees service interrupted september overhead power line dropped class train arriving station circuit breaker delaying trains days later september electrical power overhead lines lost section high speed line outside delaying passengers evening operated services december european snowfall trains broke inside leaving france kent december trains systems conditions passengers stuck inside failed trains inside tunnel services disrupted services cancelled saturday december monday december independent review published february critical plans place assisting passengers stranded delays calling insufficient january brussels london train broke resulting trains failing complete journeys cause failure onboard signalling system severe weather limited service operated days february services brussels london interrupted following train collision time dedicated lines suburbs belgian capital blocked debris train crash suburban commuter lines alongside efforts trains instead terminated services brussels directing passengers continue journey local trains brussels services resumed limited scale february february service paris london broke outside international passengers hours rescue train called april air traffic western_europe closed eruption volcano travellers european mainland instead took train tickets brussels london april sold hours closure british april additional trains carried passengers scheduled travel period december closed day snowy weather suspended day thousands passengers stranded run christmas october man fell approximately service london brussels passed near entry individual refused entry united_kingdom voluntarily returning brussels line handed closed hours following incident train returned north passengers transferred service operating london passengers arrived approximately controversy threatened require transported trains following criticism cycling groups reversed possible developments station trains currently originally intended london stop regional reviewed following olympics claimed business hit stopping trains regional original plan services destinations north london abandoned significantly improved journey times available opening high speed physically connected west_coast main line recently increased maximum speeds potential services commercially viable likely proposals adopted new high speed line london north britain director communications commented international services regions likely high speed built key pieces infrastructure belong subsidiary owns track access rights rights paths east_coast west_coast main lines announcement plans start services remains possibility future meantime closest equivalent services station connections changing recent construction new adjacent king cross station improved interchange provided east_coast services easier connections high speed involved reviewing publishing reports high speed looks favourably undertaking operation services considered time high speed completed alternatively future loans sets operators enable trains operate speed unlike previous loan trains limited mph regular track separate company called high speed ltd set investigate feasibility viability new line likely serving similar route proposed high speed line paris cutting corner enable trains save minutes journey paris bringing london paris journey time hours french government announced future investment plans new built included listed planned longer term later confirmed intended built new destinations reduced journey times offered opening high speed opening bring continental destinations range london rail competitive air travel estimates train hours minutes london amsterdam present concentrating developing connections services direct services destinations possible routes potential services likely include infrastructure rolling stock built use german railways electrification netherlands uses operate lines require new heavily modified rolling stock designed operate different addition use signalling systems differ addition infrastructure difficulties potential services paris brussels require installation stringent security measures having signed agreement allows movement borders member countries difficulties faces expanding services faced potential competitors outside agreement london bound trains use platforms physically isolated international operators face addition british authorities required passenger security passport checks board train deter domestic passengers difficulties providing similar service safety rules major ones half train rule length rule half train rule stipulated passenger trains able split case emergency class trains designed half sets coupled form complete train enabling split easily event emergency tunnel unaffected set able driven half train rule finally abolished length rule states passenger trains metres long corridor match distance safety doors tunnel retained preventing potential operators applying run services existing fleets majority ice trains long october president outlined plans expand services paris fleet renewal plan connect line paris large commercial business centre west paris described priority estimated connection allow interchange proposed paris line allow journey time central london defined priorities future dream stations million inhabitants grand paris linked european high speed network challenge london frankfurt time announcement announced plans expanding network potentially included amsterdam destinations line require equipment upgrades existing fleet new fleet equipped domestic signalling systems following december opening london amsterdam journey estimated interview chief executive intention serve new destinations expressed including amsterdam frankfurt cologne geneva likely second hub created brussels september announced agreement government netherlands dutch railway company start twice daily services london starting december service use newly bought brussels antwerp journey time hours november announced service amsterdam start include stop amsterdam airport addition previously announced destinations company said announce border control procedures service january specifically necessary passenger pass border control announced new service london start december announced saturdays june new seasonal service introduced serving way kilometres miles central addition long standing seasonal summer service saturdays july august week september travelling centre services run replaced seasonal centre services new year round service competition international rail travel new european_union designed break order encourage competition services countries sparked interest companies providing services competition new services destinations paris brussels rail carrier formally propose secure permission service intends run services london germany netherlands sale high speed having effectively june likely stimulate competition line march announced discussions oversees tunnel aim elements safety code governing tunnel usage requirement trains able split tunnel train driven opposite ends removed proposal allow shorter trains passed chief executive said hoped rules allow entry market competitors sources suggested entered market change december happen july announced intended test run high speed train october preparation possible future operations trial ran october class ice train specially british union flag train display press international class train proposed service ceremony revealed planned operate london frankfurt amsterdam biggest air travel markets europe trains splitting joining brussels hoped begin services class ice units trains day way morning midday afternoon initially calling points way amsterdam cologne way frankfurt amsterdam cologne hours london frankfurt hours decided hold mainly advance passport check requirements hoped immigration checks board british authorities required immigration security checks europe station taking minutes august announced desire eventually run high speed trains italy united_kingdom newly ordered high speed trains trains delivered
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