German rail operator Deutsche Bahn does not expect to operate through trains between Germany and London St Pancras before 2016 at the earliest.
Originally Deutsche Bahn was hopeful of running international trains to London in time for the 2012 Olympics. Its high-speed ICE train was launched in a blaze of publicity at London’s St Pancras in 2010.
Last year we reported that technical issues had pushed back the launch date until the end of 2013.
Now comes the news that DB does not expect to operate through trains between Germany and London St Pancras before 2016 at the earliest.
According to a report on Spiegel Online ongoing technical issues at train builder Siemens means that the new ICE trains being ordered for domestic and international operation will not be ready in time.
As sister site Business Traveller has explained in the past, the operation of international trains within Europe is a complex operation because every country has its own technical standards.
The existing Eurostar trains get round this by using sophisticated technology. But they cannot run beyond Belgium and France into Holland and Germany without expensive modifications as the latter two countries have different systems too.
A further problem faced by DB is that it will be operating 200-metre long trains joined together to form one unit. According to industry magazine RAIL, this concept has not yet been approved by the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (the body which determines technical standards for the Tunnel) as, under current rules, a door always needs to be opposite one of the Tunnel’s cross-passage exits.
In the past a number of readers have asked why, when the first ICE was exhibited at St Pancras, is it not possible to use that train rather than wait for expensive new rolling stock.
The fact is that DB’s ICE was not approved to use the Tunnel in 2010. So it did not operate into London under its own power. It was hauled by a couple of diesel locomotives (specially designed for Tunnel operation) from Calais through to St Pancras.
The news comes as a blow to UK rail agents. Says Michael Birtles, managing director of European Rail, “The news has come as a disappointment. We thought the arrival of ICE in London would mean we would be offering our business customers a really competitive product between London, Cologne and Frankfurt.”
Travellers can still book high-speed rail between London and Germany provided they take Eurostar to Brussels Midi and change platforms for DB’s onward ICE service. But making the connection in Brussels extends the overall journey time.
www.bahn.com