Lower train line costs 'could mean more services'
More Southeastern train services may run on the High Speed 1 (HS1) route after the government announced costs to use the line will reduce, the rail operator says.
On Monday, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) announced the amount paid by operators to use HS1 line for five years from April 2025 should be cut by 10.4%.
The rail operator said it welcomed the announcement and is now examining how passengers may benefit.
The HS1 line, which is owned by private investors, runs from London through Kent to the Channel and is used by Eurostar trains to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, as well as domestic Southeastern services between London and Kent, and freight trains.
Southeastern is the only train operator in the UK to operate a domestic highspeed service.
The company is publicly owned and receives a significant taxpayer subsidy to operate services.
HS1 Ltd chief strategy and regulation officer, Mattias Bjornfors, said: "Our plan for 2025-2030 includes proposals to enhance efficiency and reduce the cost of operating the high-speed line."
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