Deutsche Bahn hauls the trains up to the Tunnel where EWS then takes over and pulls the train into the UK and all the way up north to Manchester.

According to DB this is the first in a series of rail links between the UK and continental Europe. The service started operations on 04 March 2008.

We welcome DB establishing the rail link finally using some of the excess spare capacity of the Channel Tunnel. It would be nice if, in cooperation with other freight and train companies, services like this would be developed as a strong competitor to road and air freight between continental Europe and the UK.
Not only does this mode of freight bear a much smaller carbon footprint compared to the afore mentioned modes, it also makes use of the available capacity through the Tunnel, which finally could see the Tunnel being made much better use of.

• Spain has the second best network punctuality rate in the entire world – 98.5%;
• It is aiming to have 10,000km of high speed track by 2020, the biggest network in the world;
• Renfe, the railway operator, is entirely stated owned.

One thing to note:

• Britain has 80 miles of high speed track.

The amazing story is that Spain has just started a new 186mph (300kph) service from Madrid to Barcelona. 410 miles (660km) in just 2.5 hours. The airlines are set for some huge competition, especially since all of the airport security hassle is negated when traveling by train and you can also use mobile phones and laptops on this new service. Flying takes about 3 hours door to door compared with this.

By comparison, London to Glasgow which is a shorter distance than this new line takes 4.5 hours with the fastest possible service but usually between 5 and 6 hours.

The other amazing thing is that the single fare that will be charged to passengers will be from 40 to 165 euros depending on class traveled and how far in advance it is booked. The walk on single fare for the shorter London to Glasgow route for second class is £130, or 172 euros. The first class open return fare is an eye watering £379, or 500 euros.

Interestingly, the train operator will give a fare refund of 50% if the train is 15-30 minutes and a full refund if the train is more than 30 minutes late. That is really customer service – from a state company.

It must be all of that private sector innovation that we are paying for these days. Train companies bleat on here about the cost being much lower for advance fares in our overly complex fare structure. Other countries offer low cost, affordable walk-on rail fares.

Spain isn’t just stopping there, however. There are plans as soon as this year to install new signalling that allows trains on the line to travel at 220mph (350kph) making the journey time faster still.

More information:

• Times Online
• Reuters
• Sky News