Channel Tunnel Given Unique Status

Image courtesy of Eurotunnel

Following the successful appeal to the Conseil d’Etat by Eurotunnel, the Channel Tunnel has been granted unique status, making it exempt from national regulation. The appeal was against a 2014 French Ministère des Transports decree which would have made the French half of the Channel Tunnel subject to any regulation pertaining to its national railway network.

The appeal was made on the grounds that the 2014 Ministère des Transports decree went against the terms of the 1986 Treaty of Canterbury, which established the bi-national nature of the tunnel. The final decision from the Conseil d’Etat, dated 15 April 2016, removes the Channel Tunnel from the French national network and may not be appealed.

Benefits of Channel Tunnel Unique Status

The Fixed Link, another name for the Channel Tunnel, will continue to operate free from regulations imposed by either England or France alone, thus preventing the creation of obstacles and inconsistencies. The must not be any regulations that interfere with setting ticket prices or charges for use as part of its Railway Usage Contract.

Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Eurotunnel SE, said:

“Eurotunnel is delighted with the decision of the Conseil d’Etat, which confirms the importance of the unique status of the integrated bi-national transport service.”