Editing Eurostar (section)

===Competition===
{{Further|High Speed 1#Future operations}}

[[File:ICE 3 Oberhaider-Wald-Tunnel.jpg|thumb|right|DB ICE 3 service, similar to which was displayed in London]]

Following the liberalisation of international rail travel by [[European Union]] directives in 2010,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mordiglia.it/convegno040306/Mordiglia%20_eng.pdf |title=Liberalization of railway transport: European directives on railway transport and Access to infrastructure |publisher=Enrico Mordiglia
 |access-date=11 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100202104945/http://www.mordiglia.it/convegno040306/Mordiglia%20_eng.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.euractiv.com/en/transport/eu-agrees-liberalise-rail-2010/article-164880 |title= EU agrees to liberalise rail by 2010 |work= EurActiv.com |location= Brussels |date= 29 June 2007 |access-date= 11 May 2009 |archive-date= 11 December 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081211090136/http://euractiv.com/en/transport/eu-agrees-liberalise-rail-2010/article-164880 |url-status= dead }}</ref> various operators have announced proposals for competition with Eurostar.

[[Deutsche Bahn]] (DB) intended to run services between London to Frankfurt and Amsterdam (two of the biggest air travel markets in Europe), with trains 'splitting & joining' in Brussels. In July 2010, DB announced that it intended to make a test run with a high-speed ICE-3MF train through the Channel Tunnel in October 2010 in preparation for possible future operations.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/deutsche-bahn-to-run-ice3-to-britain-this-year.html |title= Deutsche Bahn to run ICE3 to Britain this year |work= Railway Gazette International |location= London |date= 29 July 2010 |access-date= 29 July 2010 |archive-date= 1 December 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201201082947/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/deutsche-bahn-to-run-ice3-to-britain-this-year.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> The trial ran on 19 October 2010 with a [[ICE 3#Class 406|Class 406]] ICE train specially liveried with a British "Union flag" decal. The train was then put on display for the press at London St Pancras International. However, this was not the class of train planned for the proposed service, instead proposing to use [[Siemens Velaro#Velaro D (DB Class 407)|Class 407]] ICE units, specially adapted for stronger Channel Tunnel safety standards.

DB scrapped the plan, mainly due to advance passport check requirements. DB had hoped that immigration checks could be done on board, but British authorities required immigration and security checks to be done at Lille-Europe station, taking at least 30{{nbsp}}minutes.<ref name="dowd-bbc-052015" />

In 2021, [[Renfe]], the national operator of Spain announced it was proposing competing London to Paris services.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/renfe-channel-tunnel-high-speed-service-london-paris-eurostar-b962795.html| title=Spain's state-owned train operator Renfe plans to launch high-speed London to Paris service| date=28 October 2021| work=Evening Standard| location=London| access-date=3 October 2023| archive-date=17 October 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017123214/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/renfe-channel-tunnel-high-speed-service-london-paris-eurostar-b962795.html| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, [[Getlink]], the owner of the [[Channel Tunnel]] had reportedly considered purchasing trains suitable for competing services, leasing them to rival operations,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/rivals-to-eurostar-in-advanced-talks-264580/ | title=Eurostar could face rival high speed rail service as Getlink in talks with Spanish rail firm Renfe | date=27 March 2022 | work=Kent Online | access-date=3 October 2023 | archive-date=17 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017122104/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/rivals-to-eurostar-in-advanced-talks-264580/ | url-status=live }}</ref> while in 2023, [[Mobico Group]], the owner of [[National Express]] has also been reported to be considering cross-Channel services named 'Evolyn'.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.railtech.com/all/2023/08/02/channel-tunnel-hopefuls-mount-another-challenge-to-eurostar/|title=Channel Tunnel hopefuls mount another challenge to Eurostar|date=2 August 2023|work=Rail Tech|access-date=3 October 2023|archive-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017121237/https://www.railtech.com/all/2023/08/02/channel-tunnel-hopefuls-mount-another-challenge-to-eurostar/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.railtech.com/rolling-stock/2022/03/25/how-getlink-wants-to-clear-a-hurdle-for-new-operators-to-run-trains-through-the-channel-tunnel/|title=How Getlink wants to clear a hurdle for new operators to run trains through the Channel Tunnel|date=25 March 2022|work=Rail Tech|access-date=3 October 2023|archive-date=17 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017121613/https://www.railtech.com/rolling-stock/2022/03/25/how-getlink-wants-to-clear-a-hurdle-for-new-operators-to-run-trains-through-the-channel-tunnel/|url-status=live}}</ref>