The first-ever high-speed freight train between France and the UK arrived in St Pancras this morning, in a trial run that could herald the future of European goods delivery.
The Euro Carex consortium sent a train from Lyon at 16.45 yesterday, carrying the equivalent of 120 tonnes of parcels. After stopping to load extra cargo at Paris Charles De Gaulle airport, then travelling via the Channel Tunnel, it drew into St. Pancras at 1.24 this morning.
“This test demonstrates the efficiency, speed and environmental benefits of an intermodal transportation system combining air containers and high-speed rail network,” said Euro Carex.
The group is a consortium of European transport and infrastructure companies including Air France, Eurotunnel, the French-state owned train operator SNCF, High Speed One, and logistics firms including UPS-TNT, FedEx and
La Poste. The only UK involvement is through British shareholders in London-listed Eurotunnel.
“Euro Carex offers a potential solution to the... rise in fuel prices, road congestion and environmental constraints which limit the number of night flights,” the company said.
