German rail boss hails 'new age' crossing

The head of German rail firm Deutsche Bahn said recently that transport was on the cusp of a new age, after the first German train between France and Britain passed through the Channel Tunnel.The high-speed ICE train made its first test trip all the way through the tunnel under the English Channel overnight and was welcomed at London's St.

Pancras station by German and British officials.

The German rail operator wants to run regular services from the heart of Europe to London within three years, taking advantage of European Union rules that open up rail competition.

"We feel ... that rail transport in Europe stands on the threshold of a new age," said Deutsche Bahn chief Ruediger Grube at St Pancras, as he announced a bold plan to run trains connecting London with major European cities.

"We have now reached the first milestone on the road to a regular direct ICE connection from 2013," said Grube.

"Three trains a day - in the morning, afternoon and evening - will connect Frankfurt and London via Cologne, Brussels and Lille in both directions.

"For the first time, we want to link Amsterdam directly with London," added the rail chief, estimating it would take five hours to travel from Frankfurt to the British capital and four hours from Amsterdam.

AFP