Commission vice president Siim Kallas said Eurostar passengers "are paying over the odds for their tickets" due to such charges. Eurotunnel charges rail operators a minimum fee per train of €4,320 plus a per-passenger fee, typically €16.60. The Commission also said the high charges are deterring new entrants from launching new passenger services through the Tunnel, although Deutsche Bahn earlier this week
secured approval to begin services from London to Germany and the Netherlands. According to the Commission, 43 percent of the tunnel's capacity is unused. In response, Eurotunnel said its charges are "proportionate" to its infrastructure costs and noted that some major rail operators have abandoned plans for Channel Tunnel services owing to difficulties in their domestic markets.