Eurostar International Limited (EIL) is the operator of the Eurostar service operating between London, Paris and Brussels. It was formed on 1 September 2010 and is owned by London and Continental Railways (LCR) (40%), NMBS/SNCB (5%) and SNCF (55%)[1]. The company was renamed from Eurostar (UK) Ltd on December 31, 2009.
EIL began as European Passenger Services (EPS), a division of British Rail. The Privatisation of British Rail saw EPS sold to LCR as part of the 1996 deal with the UK government to build and operate High Speed 1 between London and the Channel Tunnel. LCR named the company Eurostar (UK) Ltd (EUKL). Formerly EUKL, SNCF and SNCB were each responsible for the running of Eurostar services on their own territory.
As part of the 1996 reorganisation a management contract for EUKL was to be awarded. Two bids for the contract were submitted by Virgin Group and Inter-Capital and Regional Rail (ICRR). ICRR was awarded the contract which runs from 1998 till 2010. Shareholders in ICRR are
In 1998 LCR ran into major financial problems and appealed to the UK government for support, see High Speed 1#Background for details.
EIL is the owner of 22 half-sets of "Three Capitals" Eurostar trains, i.e. British Rail Class 373 with 9 middle cars and of all 14 half-sets of "North of London" (NoL) Regional Eurostar trains with 7 middle cars. Two half sets of such trains form one full set with a power head on both ends.
The High Speed 1 line was sold in November 2010[2]
In early 2008, after the completion of High Speed 1, the British government announced its intention to put EUKL up for sale. Deutsche Bahn expressed an interest[3] but LCR remains the owner of the British state as of November 2010.
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