UBER ANNOUNCES MARKETING DEAL FOR ENGLISH CHANNEL TUNNEL TRAINS

LONDON, May 21 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Transport app company Uber said it has signed an agreement to co-brand trains running through the English Channel tunnel, PA Media/dpa reported.

Uber has formed a partnership with Gemini Trains, which is developing plans to launch international rail services from London St Pancras.

"Under the marketing agreement, Uber will co-brand the service, as well as offer passengers the opportunity to book tickets through the Uber app," a statement from Uber read.

The deal echoes Uber's collaboration with London's Thames Clipper boats, which involves Uber branding the service but operations being the responsibility of Thames Clipper.

Gemini Trains, chaired by Labour peer Lord Berkeley, is planning to purchase 10 new trains for its services.

Its initial routes would be from London St Pancras to Paris and Brussels - calling at Ebbsfleet, Kent - with plans to expand services to other European destinations.

Eurostar stopped calling at Ebbsfleet and Ashford, also in Kent, in March 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite local pressure for services to resume, the company has said it is focusing on its core routes.

Gemini Trains announced in March that it had been developing its plans for two years and had submitted an application to regulator the Office of Rail and Road for access to Eurostar's Temple Mills maintenance depot in northeast London.

Eurostar holds a monopoly in running passenger services through the English Channel tunnel.

Other organisations developing proposals to launch rival services include billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Italy's state-owned railway company FS Italiane Group.

-- BERNAMA-dpa