As the United Kingdom and the European Union met yesterday in London for a high-profile summit to reset their relationship, one sector stands out where closer alignment would bring immediate, tangible benefits: Rail.

To bring the UK into the Single European Railway Area (‘SERA’) would embrace a forward-looking, practical partnership that delivers for citizens, businesses, and the climate.

The scheme was welcomed by Nick Brooks, Secretary General of the AllRail alliance of New Entrants to the passenger market. He said it ‘is a move in the right direction, because it is a non-discriminatory development that treats all operators the same way, helping new services with high up-front investment costs to shoulder the burden in the ramp-up period’.

Commenting on Gemini’s announcement, the ALLRAIL alliance of new entrants the passenger market said it "welcomes all newcomers — they will bring more choice and more trains to a market that is chronically under served."

Gemini is a new operator that plans to offer competitive fares and high-quality, long-distance high-speed rail services between the EU and the United Kingdom, using the Channel Tunnel.

Gemini est un nouvel opérateur qui prévoit de proposer des tarifs compétitifs et des services ferroviaires à grande vitesse de haute qualité sur longues distances entre l’Europe continentale et le Royaume-Uni, en empruntant le tunnel sous la Manche.