The Prime Minister has been urged to place international rail firmly on the agenda as a symbol and a tool of a revitalised UK-EU relationship at the EU-UK Summit on Monday 19 May.
Ahead of his meeting with EU leaders in London, the Campaign for Better Transport, UK Transport in Europe (UKTiE) and the Rail Freight Group have written to Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to champion international rail and commit to unlocking the Channel Tunnel’s full potential as part of a future-facing transport and trade strategy.
Campaign for Better Transport
Chief Executive of the Campaign for Better Transport Ben Plowden said: “The Channel Tunnel was conceived as a bold expression of Anglo-European cooperation and has played a key role in increasing economic prosperity in the UK and our relationship with Europe, yet it is woefully underused.
“With the Government undertaking a ‘once-in-a-generation’ programme of domestic rail reform, we are keen it does not overlook the huge benefits of international rail.
“The Government must use the full potential of the Channel Tunnel to help boost the UK economy and revitalise the UK’s relationship with the EU.”
Campaign for Better Transport’s recent report Runways to railways: unlocking the potential of the Channel Tunnel revealed that 28.5 million people a year could be travelling between the UK and Europe by train by 2024 – more than two and half times the current number – boosting the UK economy by around £1 billion a year in tourism spend alone.
The report also revealed that the Tunnel has the potential to account for up to half of the trips between the UK and near-Europe currently made by air by 2040, significantly reducing the number of flights required and avoiding the need for costly, disruptive, and unpopular airport expansion.
Expanding rail freight through the Tunnel could also significantly reduce HGV traffic and ease the burden on the south coast ports.
Maggie Simpson OBE, Director General of the Rail Freight Group, added: “Increasing rail freight through the Channel Tunnel will stimulate UK-EU trade, opening up new routes to market for UK businesses and helping to decongest busy motorways.
“We urge Government to provide focussed support for this vital trade corridor.”
Mark Watts, CEO of UK Transport in Europe (UKTiE), said: “Promoting international rail is one of the most effective ways to boost UK-EU trade, cut emissions, and support long-term, sustainable economic growth.
“The Channel Tunnel remains a vital but underused asset. By working with the EU to streamline border controls—not just at rail termini but across ports and key pinch points—we can unlock quick, tangible wins.
“The UK-EU reset is the opportunity to realise that potential and deliver real benefits for passengers, businesses and the regions that depend on them.”
To help realise this potential, the letter, which can be viewed in full here, calls on the Government to:
- Develop an International Rail Strategy with growth targets, complementing the Secretary of State for Transport’s strategy for GBR and domestic rail;
- Facilitate more direct services between London and European cities;
- Reopen Ashford and Ebbsfleet International stations;
- Work with the EU to streamline border controls to make international travel easier;
- Invest in rail routes through Kent from the Channel Tunnel to support rail freight growth.
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