Eutelsat Com Regulatory News (ETL)

26 Apr 2007 14:00

Eurotunnel PLC/Eurotunnel S.A.26 April 2007 26 April 2007 For release at 14h00 UK time Eurotunnel to lead major railway infrastructure research project * As project leader for the new Track Train System Availability project,Eurotunnel today hosted the launch meeting at its terminal in Coquelles, France. With a budget of €6 million attributed to the project via the Nord Pas de Calais/ Picardie world centre for excellence in surface transport and logistics, theTTSA project brings together experienced and innovative industry specialists,operators and researchers. It will focus on developing major technologicaladvances in rail quality, welding, points design and fault detection and willlook at opportunities for progress and economy. Today's launch in Coquelles brought together the representatives of theprincipal partners: i-Trans, Corus, RailTech, Sculfort, Outreau Technologies,RFF, the Ecole des Mines de Douai, and INSA-Lyon. Over the coming three years new products and analysis systems will be perfectedand tested on the Eurotunnel network. In return, the company will, for the firsttime, receive a subsidy from the Fonds Interministeriel de Competitivite (1). Jacques Gounon, Chairman and Chief Executive said, "The role entrusted toEurotunnel within the centre for excellence constitutes at the same timerecognition of our expertise and for the first time an access to public funds.To work together with other industries from the region is directly in line withthe economic development that Eurotunnel has always encouraged". *Part of the Nord Pas de Calais / Picardie world centre for excellence insurface transport and logistics. (1) The Fonds Interministeriel de Competitivite is a French Government fund managed jointly by the Ministries for the Interior and Development; Defence; Economy, Finance and Industry; Transport and Equipment, Tourism and the Sea; Health and Solidarity, Agriculture and Fish and the ministry delegated to Higher Teaching and Research. Through this fund, the Government announced, at the end of March, a statesubsidy for 100 research and development projects, including TTSA, with a totalbudget of €153 million. No 018/2007 For media enquiries contact The Press Office on + 44 (0) 1303 284491. Email: press@eurotunnel.com www.eurotunnel.com Eurotunnel manages the infrastructure of the Channel Tunnel and operatesaccompanied truck shuttle and passenger shuttle (car and coach) services betweenFolkestone, UK and Coquelles, France. Eurotunnel also earns toll revenue fromtrain operators (Eurostar for rail passengers, and EWS and SNCF for railfreight) which use the Tunnel. Eurotunnel is quoted in London, Paris andBrussels. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange