ALLRAIL remarks how the Scottish government cancelled competitive tendering among public and private operators and reverted to a state-owned operator with a directly awarded exclusive contract subsidised by the Scottish taxpayer….

But ticket prices have risen at more than double the rate of inflation. Hundreds of services were cut as part of a ‘temporary’ timetable that lasted four months. No new trains have been ordered, leaving Scotland with one of Europe’s oldest and most polluting rail fleets. Punctuality has worsened compared to the previous competitively tendered service.

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.