27 September 2019

GREEN SPEED: A PROJECT TO COMBINE EUROSTAR AND THALYS HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE BOARDS OF THEIR SHAREHOLDERS TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL IN EUROPE

From their earliest days, Eurostar and Thalys have shared the same purpose and vision - to directly connect European cities across borders whilst respecting the environment. Over the last twenty-five years, this has been achieved by revolutionising high-speed rail travel and giving rise to a new generation of environmentally responsible travellers by providing fast and easy direct links between city centres across destinations in Europe.

Thalys and Eurostar operate already across five countries - France, United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany – with an approximate population of nearly 245 million. Together, they run  112 trains every day  serving together more than 18.5 million passengers annually.

The challenge of climate change and Europe’s growing demand for eco-responsible and sustainable travel presents a great opportunity for both companies in terms of development.

The combined excellence and unique expertise of Eurostar’s and Thalys’ colleagues would provide a powerful platform for the future growth of European high-speed rail and a solution to this growing demand.

Going forward, passengers would experience a comfortable, sustainable and European high speed travel experience. By combining Thalys and Eurostar, the Green Speed project would  link the UK with the Mediterranean, the North Sea with the Atlantic and the Benelux countries with the peaks of the Alps.

This new service would be an additional reason to choose the train over  road or air travel in Europe.

Combining  resources - in particular fleets as well as information and distribution systems – would increase economic efficiency and provide the customer with an enhanced, sustainable commercial service,  delivering on the ambition to increase the number of direct links between European cities in the future.

All of the colleagues who have made Thalys and Eurostar the success they are today have unique experience of European travellers and their diversity. Tomorrow they would  build the Green Speed Project drawing on their collective high speed rail skills.

The vision for the Green Speed Project is underpinned by five key objectives

1. An attractive alternative to air and road travel for nearly 30 million passengers per year by 2030
The combined entity would aim to accelerate the switch from air and road travel to high speed rail travel by increasing the capacity of passengers per year on the combined Eurostar and Thalys networks, both current and future, from 18.5 million passengers today to nearly 30 million by 2030, providing a response to the growing demand for environmentally-responsible travel.

2. A high-speed train service relying on renewable energy and an ambitious sustainability policy
The Green Speed Project would aim to create a combined entity which would maximise the use of renewable energy for its fleet between now and 2030 further reducing its CO2 emissions in support of the EU’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
By accelerating the initiatives already in place, the combined entity would also aim to introduce  an ambitious environmental policy in terms of waste management, removal of plastics, eco-driving of trains and sustainable purchasing.

3.Simpler international travel  for every customer

As a result of combining the two companies, the new entity would provide each customer with seamless and efficient services with one single ticket between the countries and cities on the Thalys and Eurostar networks, improved schedules for quick connections, supported by innovative digital tools at every stage of the journey for customers.  

4.Attractive offers and a single passenger loyalty programme
A joint loyalty programme would  be introduced across the unified network giving passengers access to attractive travel and partner offers with other multimodal, sustainable companies. The members of this unified loyalty programme  would benefit from more upgrades, discounts and complimentary journeys with early access to partner offers as well as lounges and  other personalised benefits. 

5. A multicultural, warm and friendly service
Drawing on both companies’ culture of quality and hospitality, the proposed combination would aim  for excellence in terms of service quality for its customers.

 
Guillaume Pepy, Chairman of SNCF, said:
The challenge of climate change and the demand for eco-responsible travel calls for an ambitious response. Bringing together the strengths of Eurostar and Thalys would be a powerful response to this challenge. The creation of a combined European high speed rail company would deliver a compelling alternative to road and air travel for our 18.5 million passengers and would herald a new era in the development of European high speed rail services. High speed is an opportunity for Europe, Europe an opportunity for high speed!

Sophie Dutordoir, CEO of SNCB and Chairman of Thalys said :
“Thalys and Eurostar joining forces would come at the right time and could only be beneficial to all travellers. It would combine railway expertise with stable shareholders. The combination would be based on the strong conviction that, now more than ever, the train is the safest, most sustainable, fastest and most efficient solution for travelling inside Europe. Brussels would play a central role in this project as the hub for the various routes, linking all the cities that are served”. 

Emmanuel Jaclot, CDPQ’s Executive Vice-President and Head of Infrastructure, on behalf of Patina Rail LLP*, said:
“The creation of this major public transport platform would mark a milestone in European sustainable mobility. As part of our global infrastructure portfolio, we are very proud to continue our longstanding partnership with SNCF, to support the development of our portfolio company Eurostar, and to participate in shaping the growth of environmentally responsible modes of transport across Europe.”


*Patina Rail LLP, shareholder of Eurostar alongside SNCF and SNCB, is owned by a consortium of the Caisse de depôt et placement du Québec ('CDPQ') and funds managed or advised by Hermes GPE LLP ('Hermes Infrastructure'). Hermes GPE LLP is a joint venture between Hermes Fund Managers Limited, GPE Partner Limited and HGPE Capital Limited.

ABOUT EUROSTAR


Established in 1994, Eurostar is the only high speed passenger train that directly links the UK to France, Belgium and The Netherlands via the Channel Tunnel.

DESTINATIONS
  • 4 countries United KingdomFranceBelgiumNetherlands
  • 14 destinations Eurostar provides direct services on its two core routes between London-Paris and London-Brussels, in addition to routes serving Calais, Lille, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Lyon, Avignon, Marseille, three ski destinations - Moutiers, Aime-La-Plage and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, and Disneyland Paris.
ABOUT THALYS

Established in 1995 and developed right from the outset to the scale of its 4 countries - Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Germany - Thalys is the result of a strong and lasting European vision.

DESTINATIONS
  • 4 countries BelgiumFranceNetherlandsGermany
  • 26 destinations Brussels, Paris, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Schiphol / Amsterdam Airport, Liège, Aix-La-Chapelle, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Airport, Duisburg, Essen, Dortmund, Paris Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, Marne-La-Vallée, Marseille, Bordeaux and the French Alps
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PRESS CONTACTS :

SNCF:
Service de presse Groupe SNCF 01 85 07 89 89 - International Press
Service de presse Voyages SNCF 01 74 54 07 31 - French press

SNCB : Bart Crols 0032 528 23 14 pers@nmbs.be

CDPQ (on behalf of Patina Rail LLP): Cesaltine Gregorio +1 212 596-6314 cgregorio@cdpq.com