Getlink reports new record for Channel Tunnel freight

Getlink - the new moniker for Groupe Eurotunnel - reported a new record for freight through the Channel Tunnel on Monday, as the infrastructure owner welcomed the announcement of new direct passenger services between London and Amsterdam.

In January 2018, the company said its Le Shuttle Freight service set a new record for the first month of the year, carrying 144,272 trucks - an increase of 10% over January 2017.

At the same time - and for the first time ever - Le Shuttle Freight carried more than 7,000 lorries in one day, on 25 January.

During the month, the company said passenger traffic on Le Shuttle remained stable with 152,068 vehicles carried, penalised by weather conditions which it said were less than conducive to tourism during the month.

At the same time, Getlink issued an update welcoming the launch of Eurostar direct services between London and Amsterdam, and London and Rotterdam, from 4 April.

The journey time of three hours, 41 minutes for Amsterdam and three hours and one minute for Rotterdam, as well as the potential of the line with more than four million passengers travelling by air each year between London and Amsterdam, made this opening a “historic landmark” for cross-Channel travel, according to the board.

Getlink, which published an independent study on potential destinations in 2014, said it had been working closely with Eurostar for “many years” on the development of new traffic through the Channel Tunnel.

“This launch is highly significant news,” said Getlink chairman and chief executive Jacques Gounon.

“Travellers will very soon be enjoying these fast, comfortable and environmentally responsible journeys.

“European citizens aspire to seamless travel experience, which states must take into account in their international relations.”

Getlink - a component of the CAC Mid 60 in Paris - owns the Channel Tunnel infrastructure and operates the freight and passenger vehicle services between Folkestone and Calais.

Passenger services through the tunnel are currently exclusively operates by Eurostar International - a separate company majority owned by French state railway operator SNCF at 55%, along with Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec at 30%, Hermes Infrastructure at 10%, and Belgian state railway operator NMBS/SNCB at 5%.