Eurotunnel Breaks New Ground on "Terminal 2015” Project to Increase Truck Capacity

Regulatory News :

The Terminal 2015 project was officially launched today when Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Eurotunnel SA (Paris:GET) laid the first stone on the Coquelles freight terminal, accompanied by François Gauthey, Managing Director of the Sanef group, customers and the companies who will conduct the engineering and infrastructure works.

Eurotunnel, the leading operator of rolling motorways, carrying 1.5 million trucks each year, is preparing to make access for goods vehicles more fluid and for the forecast arrival of 2 million trucks per year in the next ten years. The forecasts are based on continuing growth in the expanding cross Channel market, following on from 2013 (+5% for the truck market).

The first phase of Terminal 2015 will bring a buffer parking zone, enabling rapid transit and an easier access to the check in area, which will be increased from two lanes to five. Subsequently, the new layout will enable an increase in loading to 8 departures per hour compared to 6 today.

Eurotunnel, the world’s leading rolling motorway, is preparing to increase capacity and further improve the management of traffic flows to ensure speed, ease and competitive advantage. Onsite capacity will increase with the addition of a 370 place secure parking area alongside the Coquelles terminal. Sanef, the infrastructure, mobility and services group will provide state of the art technology to the new Eurotunnel parking area, to respond to the needs of truck drivers who require secure parking, with services, as near to the Tunnel as possible.

A similar project will shortly begin in Folkestone, Kent, with the creation of extra access lanes and a new, enhanced check in plaza.

Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Eurotunnel SA, stated: "Eurotunnel, the leader across the Channel, is making these investments to provide new services and unbeatable frequency of departure for its ever increasing numbers of customers”.