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SNCF to sue over Chunnel delays

17th March 1994, Page 6
17th March 1994
Page 6
Page 6, 17th March 1994 — SNCF to sue over Chunnel delays
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by Amanda Bradbury • BR moved swiftly this week to distance itself from French railways operator SNCF which is intending to sue Eurotunnel over its delay in opening the Channel Tunnel to through-freight traffic.

The move follows reports that both UK and French railways want compensation for additional through-freight revenue which they should have collected from Monday (14 March).

Both railway operators have invested millions of pounds in new equipment to run through the tunnel which is now lying idle: and they have lost face with customers. SNCrs lawyers are assessing its claim.

BR says it has no plans to sue and denies that Railfreight Distribution managing director Ian Brown said he wanted to seek compensation while in Paris earlier this week.

BR's move comes as it is revealed that where BR • Reports of a move to seek compensa has switched tion come in the wake of an extraordinary freight to a U-turn by Eurotunnel which now says it Trainferry cannot say what date the tunnel will open service, it to either freight shuttle services carrying could be bettrucks or through-freight This comes just ter off than if a fortnight alter Eurotunnel's freight it was operatdirector Christian Mylut said freight ing through shuttle services would "definitely" start the tunnel. in the second half of April.

Eurotunnel But now the operator says the only confirms that definite date it has is the ceremonial no money "opening" by the Queen and President will change Mitterrand on 6 May.

hands be tween BR and itself until tunnel services start—using the ferry is cheaper than the tunnel—and BR's own revenue has been guaranteed in contracts. However, BR says it regrets the delay which has forced it to move its first through-tunnel contract on to the Dover to Dunkirk Trainferry service (see box). The multi-million pound work, moving Rover cars to Italy for MAT Transauto, is being moved across the Channel on a SNCF-owned ship, the Nord Pas de Calais.

A BR spokesman says it is fulfiling the terms of this contract and will continue to do so: but MAT Transauto's managing director Keith Patterson says he is very disappointed with the delay: "The journey is much longer via the Trainferry—about three days extra on the return trip—compared to using the tunnel. Unfortunately, our contract says we can't move through the tunnel until Eurotunnel is happy with safety."


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