Eurostar ticket prices

16.4.2014

Question for written answer E-004934-14
to the Commission
Rule 117
Syed Kamall (ECR)

I have been contacted by a constituent who believes that Eurostar is in breach of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union by imposing unfair purchase prices on its tickets.

My constituent tells me that on Tuesday, 4 March 2014 he sought to purchase a non-refundable and non-exchangeable return ticket to visit Paris on 6 May for a price of GBP 66. He tells me that he was able to purchase this ticket but with the earliest departure date at 4.20 p.m. on 6 May and that the price of all the previous departure times on that day were up to approximately GBP 150.

My constituent alleges that the prices had been fixed by Eurostar in order to abuse its dominant position in the field of rail transport and that this blocking of cheaper seats on the Eurostar train has a negative effect on the free movement of EU citizens. He is also concerned that such practices reduce the practical economic use of high-speed electric trains between the UK and the continent as well as increasing air traffic and ferry crossings.

My constituent also tells me that Eurotunnel, as the owner and provider of the railway track and tunnel facilities, charges Eurostar GBP 25 per passenger for a return trip from London to Paris.

Given my constituent’s concerns that both companies are exploiting their monopoly on direct rail passenger transport between London and Paris, could the Commission confirm if Eurostar and Eurotunnel are in breach of EC law and if my constituent’s allegation of price-fixing has any basis?

If so, does the Commission intend to take any action to ensure that Eurostar and Eurotunnel change their pricing policy?

OJ C 405, 14/11/2014