DoT to reveal rail link winner

The Department of Transport is expected to announce on Tuesday which of two bidders will construct the Channel Tunnel London to Folkestone rail link.

The Richard Rogers Partnership is thought to have joined the London & Continental consortium’s bid, and with French company Systra, part of French railway SNCF, is thought to have completed designs involving the link’s three stations at St Pancras, Stratford and Ebbsfleet in Kent.

A spokesman from Virgin, a member of London & Continental’s bid, confirms that Eurostar trains will be “refurbished and updated” if the consortium wins.

London & Continental’s rival Eurorail will undertake all design in-house, claims a spokesman.