Eurotunnel was concerned that it did not have sufficient in-house expertise in GSM-R while at the same time it is trying to encourage greater use of the Channel Tunnel by making it more interoperable with its neighbouring railways in France and Britain, both of which already use GSM-R.

"This collaboration between infrastructure managers, especially in an area that is so strategic in terms of safety as the communication between track and train, is a new step towards greater harmonisation in European railway transport," says Hubert du Mesnil, chairman and CEO of RFF.