Editing Getlink (section)

===2000s===
On 13 February 2004, Groupe Eurotunnel was granted a rail operator's licence in France, becoming the first company ever to possess such status.<ref name=history/>

In April 2004, a dissident shareholder group led by Nicolas Miguet succeeded in taking control of Groupe Eurotunnel's board. However, during February 2005, Jean-Louis Raymond, the [[Chief Executive]] appointed as a consequence of the boardroom coup, resigned and [[Jacques Gounon]] took complete control, becoming both [[Chairman]] and Chief Executive.<ref>{{cite news |last = Norris |first = Floyd |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/11/business/worldbusiness/11eurotunnel.html |title = Chief of Eurotunnel quits amid turmoil on board |newspaper = The New York Times |date = 11 June 2005 |access-date = 17 December 2013 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131225084655/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/11/business/worldbusiness/11eurotunnel.html |archive-date = 25 December 2013}}</ref> During July 2006, shareholders voted on a deal that would have seen half the debt, by then reduced to £6.2&nbsp;billion, exchanged for 87% of the equity.<ref>{{cite news |title = Eurotunnel faces debt opposition |work = BBC News |date = 4 June 2006 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5046802.stm |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090215093041/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5046802.stm |archive-date = 15 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Eurotunnel blames Deutsche as it files for bankruptcy protection |newspaper = The Independent |date = 14 August 2006 |url = http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1174375.ece |location = London |first = Michael |last = Harrison |access-date = 2 May 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071120141019/http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article1174375.ece |archive-date = 20 November 2007}}</ref> However, this plan failed, and on 2 August 2006, Groupe Eurotunnel was placed into [[bankruptcy|bankruptcy protection]] by a French court for six months.<ref>{{cite news |title = Eurotunnel gets court protection |work = BBC News |date = 2 August 2006 |access-date = 3 August 2006 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5237000.stm |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080430222100/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5237000.stm |archive-date = 30 April 2008}}</ref> In May 2007, a restructuring plan was approved by shareholders, whereby [[Deutsche Bank]], [[Goldman Sachs]], and [[Citigroup]] agreed to provide £2.8&nbsp;billion of long-term funding and the balance of the debt being exchanged for equity, and the shareholders agreed to waive numerous perks, such as unlimited free travel, that they had previously been entitled to.<ref>{{cite news |title = Eurotunnel 'saved' by investors |work = BBC News |date = 25 May 2007 |access-date = 26 May 2007 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6693897.stm |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070902043420/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6693897.stm |archive-date = 2 September 2007}}</ref>

During June 2007, the company entered into a partnership through subsidiary ''Europorte 2'' with the Port of Dunkirk relating to rail freight traffic. Under this partnership, Groupe Eurotunnel was to operate trains from Dunkirk to the Delta 3 logistics terminal at [[Dourges]], and collaborate on container shipments to the United Kingdom, using the port of Dunkirk via the tunnel.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/channel-tunnel-freight-deal-follows-crucial-vote.html |title = Channel Tunnel freight deal follows crucial vote |date = 1 July 2007 |work = railwaygazette.com |access-date = 10 March 2012 |archive-date = 5 June 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200605055850/https://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/channel-tunnel-freight-deal-follows-crucial-vote.html |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url = http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/eurotunnel-et-le-port-de-dunkerque-ensemble-sur-le-fret-ferroviaire.N18800 |title = Eurotunnel and the Port of Dunkirk together on rail freight |date = 15 June 2007 |website = usinenovelle.com |language = fr |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151018130932/http://www.usinenouvelle.com/article/eurotunnel-et-le-port-de-dunkerque-ensemble-sur-le-fret-ferroviaire.N18800 |archive-date = 18 October 2015|last1 = Nouvelle |first1 = L'Usine }}</ref>

Following the restructuring, Groupe Eurotunnel was able to announce a small net profit of €1 million in 2007, reportedly for the first time in the company's existence.<ref>{{cite news |title = Pour la première fois de son histoire, Eurotunnel est devenu bénéficiaire |work = [[Le Monde]] |date = 8 April 2008 |access-date = 19 July 2008 |url = http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2008/04/08/premiers-benefices-pour-eurotunnel_1032093_3234.html |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080410215732/http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2008/04/08/premiers-benefices-pour-eurotunnel_1032093_3234.html |archive-date = 10 April 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = Eurotunnel reports first profit |work = [[BBC News]] |date = 8 April 2008 |access-date = 28 October 2009 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7335991.stm |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100312230102/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7335991.stm |archive-date = 12 March 2010}}</ref> Half-year earnings for 2008 rose to €26 million (£20.6&nbsp;million), while net profit was €40 million, despite the costs associated with traffic loss from September 2008 to February 2009 following a fire in the tunnel; this allowed Eurotunnel to issue its first-ever dividend of €0.04 per euro value.<ref>{{cite news |title = Premier dividende pour les actionnaires d'Eurotunnel |work = [[Le Figaro]] |date = 4 March 2009 |access-date = 3 March 2009 |url = http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2009/03/04/04015-20090304ARTFIG00356-premier-dividende-pour-les-actionnaires-d-eurotunnel-.php |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090305084316/http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2009/03/04/04015-20090304ARTFIG00356-premier-dividende-pour-les-actionnaires-d-eurotunnel-.php |archive-date = 5 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title = 2008 Summary |work = Groupe Eurotunnel S.A. |date = 23 March 2009 |access-date = 28 October 2009 |url = http://www.eurotunnel.com/ukcP3Main/ukcCorporate/ukcFinancialData/ukcKeyFigures/ |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091008082943/http://www.eurotunnel.com/ukcP3Main/ukcCorporate/ukcFinancialData/ukcKeyFigures/ |archive-date = 8 October 2009}}</ref>

The return to financial health allowed Groupe Eurotunnel to announce, on 28 October 2009, the anticipated voluntary redemption of some of its convertible debt. By anticipating to November 2009 the reimbursement of debt due in July 2010, it aimed to issue up to 119.4 million new ordinary shares, and thus shore up its capital while reducing its debt load.<ref>{{cite news |title = Eurotunnel tourne la page de sa dette |work = [[Le Figaro]] |date = 28 October 2009 |access-date = 28 October 2009 |url = http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2009/10/28/04015-20091028ARTFIG00239-fin-de-restructuration-en-vue-pour-eurotunnel-.php |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091031024233/http://www.lefigaro.fr/societes/2009/10/28/04015-20091028ARTFIG00239-fin-de-restructuration-en-vue-pour-eurotunnel-.php |archive-date = 31 October 2009}}</ref>

In December 2009, Groupe Eurotunnel and the French state railway operator [[SNCF]] acquired the French rail freight operator [[Veolia Cargo]], splitting the business between them. The company took over French operations: ''Veolia Cargo France'', ''Veolia Cargo Link,'' and ''CFTA Cargo'' are expected to be rebranded ''Europorte France'', ''Europorte Link'' and ''Europorte proximity'' and become part of its [[Europorte]] freight business. ''Socorail'' has not been announced as being rebranded.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/indexarticle.htm?artid=20017724477&src=ticker |title = Eurotunnel completes Veolia Cargo takeover |publisher = www.ifw-net.com |first = James |last = Faulkner |date = 1 December 2009 |access-date = 1 December 2009 |archive-date = 25 February 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120225141442/http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/indexarticle.htm?artid=20017724477&src=ticker |url-status = dead }}</ref>