Societas Europaea | |
Traded as |
Euronext: GET CAC Next 20 Component |
Industry | Rail transport |
Founded | 1986 |
Headquarters | Paris, France |
Key people
|
Jacques Gounon (Chairman & CEO) since 14 June 2005 |
Services | Operation of Channel Tunnel infrastructure; freight rail transport; car shuttle train services |
Revenue | €1,207 million (2014) |
€334 million (2014) | |
Profit | €57.1 million (2014) |
Total assets | €7.363 billion (end 2014) |
Total equity | €1.758 billion (end 2014) |
Number of employees
|
3,959 (end 2014) |
Subsidiaries | Europorte |
Website | www |
Getlink, formerly Groupe Eurotunnel, is a public company which manages and operates the Channel Tunnel between England and France, including the Eurotunnel Shuttle vehicle services, and earns revenue on other trains through the tunnel (DB Schenker freight and Eurostar passenger). It is listed on both the Euronext London and Euronext Paris markets and was listed on the until 19 July 2012. The company is based in Paris.
The railway operation has 50.45 kilometres (31.35 mi) of double track railway in the main tunnels, plus extensive surface level terminal facilities at Folkestone in England and at Calais in France; the operation is entirely self-contained, with connections near the two terminals to the respective national railway networks. Signalling and electric traction supply at 25 kV AC are also under Getlink control.
Train operation consists of shuttle trains conveying cars and coaches and other trains conveying heavy goods vehicles between the two terminals. Other trains using Getlink infrastructure are operated by the respective owners.
In November 2017, Groupe Eurotunnel was rebranded Getlink.
The company was formed on 13 August 1986 with the objective of financing, building and operating a tunnel between England and France.
The company awarded a contract for the construction of the tunnel to TransManche Link (TML). The tunnel cost around £9.5bn to build, about double TML's original estimate of £4.7bn. The tunnel was financed partly from investment by shareholders and partly from £8bn of debt, and was officially opened on 6 May 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II, and President François Mitterrand. In its first year of operation the company lost £925m because of disappointing revenue from passengers and freight, together with heavy interest charges on its £8bn of debt.
In April 2004, a dissident shareholder group led by Nicolas Miguet succeeded in taking control of the board. However, in February 2005, Jean-Louis Raymond, the Chief Executive appointed after the boardroom coup, resigned and Jacques Gounon took complete control becoming Chairman and Chief Executive.