One of the operators which wants to operate open access international trains between London and continental Europe has named a train builder and a leasing company as its partners. Gemini Trains says it is working with Siemens and Rock Rail so that it can run services between London, Paris, Brussels and Cologne.

Network Rail has published details of engineering work which is scheduled to take place over Christmas and New Year, disrupting services on some lines. Network Rail’s chief network operator Helen Hamlin said: ‘The period between Christmas and New Year is the quietest on the railway and it’s the best time for us to do the major projects that will take longer than a night or a weekend to complete.’