A GROUP of firms including Mobico, the rail and coach company formerly known as National Express, have held a series of talks about launching a UKFrance rail service to rival Eurostar, according to the Financial Times.

The service would be the first to challenge Eurostar's monopoly of the cross-

Channel route.

The newspaper said the Spanish Cosmen industrialist family was one among the consortium, which has already had investor discussions over funding and routes.

Insiders cited by the paper said the service would be called Evolyn and could start running as early as 2025.

Mobico was contacted for comment.

(c) 2023 City A.M., source Newspaper