‘Savings for passengers’ as lower fees charged to train firms using HS1 line
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Passengers will benefit from train companies being charged lower fees to operate between London St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel, a regulator said. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) announced that the amount paid by operators to use the High Speed 1 (HS1) line for the five years from April should be cut by 10.4%.
HS1 is used by Eurostar trains to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam; domestic Southeastern services between London and Kent, and within Kent; and freight trains heading to and from the Channel Tunnel. East Midlands Railway trains also run in and out of London St Pancras.
Demand for seats on Eurostar services has soared since the end of coronavirus travel restrictions despite an increase in fares. HS1 is owned by a group of private investors. The ORR ordered it to lower access charges after carrying out a review of the company’s latest spending plans.
ORR's view is that better management of the track and station assets can result in lower charges, ultimately benefiting customers. It stated: “The company is being directed to reduce its charges for renewing its track assets and its stations, including St Pancras.
“It must also reduce its charges for its day-to-day operating and maintenance of the railway. “ORR was able to identify specific areas in the company’s spending plans where further improvements can be made, resulting in savings to passenger and freight train operators.
