Sir Roger Gale
Member of Parliament for North Thanet (Margate, Herne Bay & The Villages)
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Eurostar - time for an alternative
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January 7th 2010
North Thanets MP, Roger Gale, has tabled a parliamentary question to establish what progress is being made towards securing a viable alternative to the Eurostar service.
Appearing on the order paper today (Thursday), for written answer on Monday 11th January, is the question in which the MP asks the Secretary of State for Transport:
What proposals are under consideration for the provision of an alternative service to Eurostar using the Channel Tunnel Rail Link; when such services could be operational; and if he will make a statement.
"In the light of the pre-Christmas failure of Eurostar" says Roger Gale "it is clear that the time has come for competitive services to be introduced. I know that there are German and French companies that have already expressed an interest in running trains through the tunnel between the UK and mainland Europe and I believe that it is time that we gave the go ahead for those services to be implemented. Eurostar's effective monopoly is not in the public interest and I do not believe that the travelling public is at present receiving the best or even a satisfactory level of service. The fresh air of competition might remind Eurostar's Chief Executive, and his team who they are working for".
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