Regulator Orders HS1 to Cut Charges, Opening Doors for Eurostar Rivals

The Office of Rail and Road mandates a 10.4% reduction in fees for operators, aiming to lower fares and encourage competition on the high-speed rail line.

• The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has directed High Speed 1 (HS1) to reduce operator charges by 10.4% starting April 2025, following a review of its spending plans.
• The fee reduction is expected to save operators £5 million annually and could lead to lower ticket prices or improved services for passengers.
• Eurostar, the primary international operator on HS1, plans to use the savings for infrastructure upgrades rather than immediate fare reductions, citing prior fee increases above inflation.
• The regulator hopes the cost cuts will attract new operators, with companies like Evolyn and Heuro expressing interest in offering competing services to destinations such as Cologne and Geneva.
• HS1's proposed innovations, including track deterioration modeling, aim to enhance efficiency and support long-term growth in passenger and freight traffic on the route.

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