Eurostar, the high-speed rail service from the United Kingdom to continental Europe, will run even smoother with Telstra now on board.

Telstra Europe, the UK-based arm of Telstra International, has won a $3.6 million contract to provide Eurostar with essential network solutions.

In the five year agreement, Telstra Europe's Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network - similar to the $1.5 billion Telstra Next IP™ network - will be used to connect 17 Eurostar sites and make it easier for staff to share information and improve customer service.

Telstra's Managing Director of its international operations, Mr Drew Kelton, said the MPLS network would connect all of Eurostar's existing and new sites, including its new station at St Pancras International in central London, which opens on 14 November 2007.

"The seven million passengers that travel on Eurostar each year will be relying on Telstra's high speed network to connect them to London, Ashford, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Avignon, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris or the French Alps," Mr Kelton said.

"Replacing its 10 year old frame relay network with MPLS, Eurostar needed a faster, more reliable service capable of supporting next generation services, such as Voice over IP (VoIP).

"Telstra's next generation network will simplify Eurostar's existing network, making it easier for staff to share information and services, and improve customer service through a faster and more effective ticketing system.

"Eurostar will be able to choose which data traffic to prioritise such as the ticketing service, departure control system and operational information - all of which will help enhance customer services and are critical to the success of any transport operator."

Dave Jamieson, Eurostar's Data Communications Infrastructure Manager, said the planned move from Waterloo to St Pancras prompted the company's networking review.

"Our needs were quite complex, technically demanding and had to be executed within a committed time scale," Mr Jamieson said.

"Telstra won the tender because of its detailed presentation, commercial proposition, proven technology and the enthusiastic and professional approach of its staff. Phase one of the project is now complete and we are confident that the migration of our services will run smoothly in November."

Mr Kelton said many Australians were surprised to learn that Telstra has approximately 500 people providing telecommunication services to the world's Top 500 companies in more than 10 countries.

"In Europe alone, our data network connects customers in London, Birmingham and Manchester in addition to 14 co-location points throughout the UK.

"Telstra has an aggressive international strategy to connect customers around the globe as demonstrated by our recent announcements to build a 9,000km, Sydney to Hawaii submarine cable - the largest ever built and wholly owned by an Australian company and our investment in the Asia America Gateway cable system," Mr Kelton said.

Eurostar's network will be managed by Telstra's skilled technical staff 24 hours a day, with guaranteed service level agreements to ensure business continuity. The MPLS service will also provide secure connections to third party networks in the UK and France.

Simon Vye, CEO of Telstra Europe said Telstra had provided a fully managed network infrastructure that would deliver cutting-edge data services for staff and customers now and in the future.

"These are exciting times for Eurostar as it plans its move to St Pancras International and expand its services. We are confident that Telstra's MPLS network will provide Eurostar with the services to strengthen its position as one of Europe's leading high-speed rail operators."

Editor's Notes:

On 14 November 2007, Eurostar's London terminal will switch from Waterloo International to St. Pancras International. Journey times will reduce by at least 20 minutes, with London-Paris down to 2h 15m, London-Brussels in 1h 51m and London-Lille in just 1h20m.
In November, Eurostar will also launch services from Ebbsfleet International, a new UK station near junction 2 of the M25 motorway, close to the Dartford Crossing, with journey times that are ten minutes less than from St Pancras International.
Telstra Europe is the UK-based arm of Telstra International - a wholly-owned subsidiary of Telstra Corporation Limited (ASX:TLS). Operational in Europe for more than 14 years, Telstra offers an extensive range of voice and data services including total managed network solutions using Global IP-VPN (MPLS), Internet, ATM, Frame Relay, Private Lines, hosting and co-location services and enhanced voice solutions to medium sized business and multinational corporations in the UK. Additional value added services include fully managed CPE, network reporting, consulting, planning, project management, service tools, which enable customers to monitor and view their network status 24/7 and customer support seven days a week.