German railways has been given the go-ahead to operate passenger trains through the Channel Tunnel, signalling the start of competition for the first time.

After three years of detailed study, the Intergovernmental Commission has granted Deutsche Bahn an operating certificate to run passenger services through the Channel Tunnel and compete with Eurostar.

The decision has been welcomed by Eurotunnel, the tunnel operator, saying it will add up to four million passengers a year to the 10 million already using the Eurostar high-speed services.

It said the arrival of DB would require no additional investment because of adjustments to the timetable and pathways through the tunnel.

DB’s bid to open up direct services via the Channel Tunnel was proof of “the significant attraction that the infrastructure offers.”

Eurotunnel said its access charges set out by France and the UK in 1987 in the Railway Usage Contract (RUC), which runs until 2052, were “particularly favourable to the development of new services: based principally on a charge per passenger, they limit start up costs for new operators whilst they build up their load factors.”

Jacques Gounon, chairman and chief executive of the Eurotunnel Group, said: “Twenty years after the start of commercial services, the Authorities have finally opened the Channel Tunnel to all. This is wonderful news for the millions of passengers in northern Europe who can now use this most environmentally friendly means of transport to travel to London”.

Nicola Shaw, CEO of High Speed One (HS1) said: “This week’s announcement that Deutsche Bahn trains have been cleared to run through the Channel Tunnel is an important step in opening up London and the UK to European travel. The UK will be part of a European-wide network of high speed trains that will provide a fast, cost-effective and efficient service to customers. International rail travel has the ability to bring about real economic benefit to the UK, and will continue to be a driver for growth.”