Channel Tunnel Spat Risks Severing Crucial U.K.-France Rail Link [View all]

The Channel Tunnel rail link that moves more than 20 million people between England and France each year could see “significant disruption” if a tussle over its jurisdiction isn’t resolved by Dec. 31, according to a report by U.K. lawmakers.

Members of the European Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons sought answers from the U.K. government, which earlier rejected a French proposal that safety and interoperability remain governed by European Union laws. With little more than three months before its exit transition from the bloc is completed, Britain hasn’t put forward an alternative plan, according to a report published Wednesday by the committee.

“Without an agreement on the future safety framework applicable to the Fixed Link, there is a danger of legal and practical uncertainty,” the committee said. “As joint U.K.-French infrastructure, a clear resolution is necessary; otherwise significant disruption is a real possibility.” The U.K. Department for Transport declined to comment.

The railway tunnel running between Calais, France, and Folkestone, England, is the only land connection between the U.K. and continental Europe. Each country controls about half of the 50-kilometer twin-rail route. It’s operated by Paris-based Getlink SE, which in 2019 transported about 1.6 million trucks on the Le Shuttle service that competes with ferry crossings. The tunnel also carries the passenger services operated by Eurostar International Ltd.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-23/channel-tunnel-spat-risks-severing-crucial-u-k-france-rail-link?srnd=politics-vp