Gemini Trains letter to ORR regarding intermediate stations
| Section | Depot access applications and decisions |
Gemini TOC Ltd Registered in England
3rd oor, Great Titcheld House Company number 14783093
14-18 Great Titcheld Street
London, W1W 8BD, UK
Ian Biggar
Access Policy Advisor
Oice of Rail and Road
25 Cabot Square,
London,
E14 4QZ
1 October 2025
Dear Ian
I am writing to you to clarify Gemini Trains’ position on plans to call at intermediate
stations. This follows our participation at the ‘International rail event’ held in Kent on 26th
September where the Rail Minister Lord Hendy gave a clear steer about the need to serve
intermediate stations.
Unlike the other S17 applicants, Gemini has developed its entire business plan around
serving Stratford International and Ebbseet International stations to create a brand-new
oer. This is a complementary service, not one that simply copies the incumbent’s oer.
Gemini rmly believes that this approach best delivers on the objective to make
international rail travel more accessible to more people.
However, Gemini recognises the potential additional value of also serving Ashford
International given its ability to stimulate economic growth and the fact that it boasts
excellent existing infrastructure which is currently unused. Serving Ashford International
is not in Gemini’s initial business plan. Our decision in this regard was taken based on the
assumption that the costs of re-enabling both Ebbseet and Ashford would not be
supported by the benet of both. As well as station access charges, any operator will
incur separate costs for UK Border Force, PAF, security and other necessary enablers as
well as its own staing.
At the Ashford event, Gemini and other attendees heard from the rail minister that there
may be appetite for government to enter discussions with successful operator(s) about
potential nancial support to re-open all intermediate stations, including Ashford.
Gemini welcomes this position and, to the extent this is a crucial evaluation criterion for
ORR in the determination of access to the maintenance facilities at TMI, Gemini would
like to put on record its willingness to consider adding Ashford to its stopping pattern in
light of the oer put forward by the Minister. However, we also recognise that such a move
would require a change to the international paths on LSPH (HS1) with earlier departure
times from Stratford to accommodate an Ashford stop to maintain the dedicated channel
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