However, Eurostar’s proposals are not set in stone.
Its Temple Mills railway storehouse in east London is the only depot in the UK able to accommodate the larger trains used in continental Europe and which is already linked to the cross-Channel line.
All the infrastructure along the line, including Temple Mills, is owned by London St Pancras Highspeed, a government organisation previously known as HS1.
Currently, it used exclusively by Eurostar who operates the line on a long-term lease.
But there are several other firms that want to start operating services between London and mainland Europe. These include Spanish start-up Evolyn, Richard Branson’s Virgin and a partnership between Gemini Trains and Uber.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has told the BBC it was reviewing proposals from these firms to use Temple Mills, as well as Eurostar’s plans to increase services.
The regulator has already said the depot had enough space to either house an expanded Eurostar fleet or accommodate a rival company’s trains – but not both.
The ORR said it would make a decision on who gets to use the depot by the end of October, but the prospect of losing vital space at Temple Mills to its rivals could severely derail Eurostar’s plans to expand its services.
In this event, the firm has previously said it would “continue to encourage private investment in new depot facilities beyond Temple Mills, of which there are many options”.
