An assessment of asset condition and performance is carried out before each control period Pancras Highspeed has announced an investment of £300m ($402.2m) towards infrastructure renewals for Control Period 4 (CP4) which is set to span from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2030 which operates the UK’s sole high-speed rail link connecting London to Europe through the Channel Tunnel and facilitating access to the capital for residents of Kent via Ebbsfleet and Ashford stations The investment includes a commitment of £4m ($5.3m) towards research and development focusing on trialling innovative technologies that enhance asset renewal efficiency and monitoring including remote condition surveillance systems an assessment of asset condition and performance is conducted to develop long-term renewal strategies extending over the next 40 years The CP4 renewal programme is a direct result of this thorough asset review ensuring the continued performance of the UK’s sole high-speed railway in a cost-effective manner Pancras Highspeed chief operating officer Richard Thorp said: “Since 2003 we’ve successfully operated the UK’s only high-speed railway To maintain the exceptional performance our passengers and partners expect we are making significant investments in renewing our infrastructure Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis “With growing demand for high-speed services our network must be ultra-reliable and high performing This control period will see the renewal of key assets to support both existing operators and future growth.” The investment announcement was made during an industry event held at Ebbsfleet International station on 28th April Pancras Highspeed in collaboration with the Railway Industry Association The event attracted more than 150 representatives from various sectors of the supply chain as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that specialise in design The purpose of the gathering was to provide suppliers with insights into the expanding pipeline of renewal projects and the long-term opportunities available within the network In 2022, HS1 announced a three-year contract with OpenSpace Group to implement technology that counts every passenger at St Pancras International and other train stations Nominations are now open for the prestigious Railway Technology Excellence Awards - one of the industry's most recognised programmes celebrating innovation This is your chance to showcase your achievements Don't miss the opportunity to be honoured among the best - submit your nomination today Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network About us | Advertise with us | Contact us Posted: 29 April 2025 | | No comments yet A £300 million investment will renew key high-speed rail assets and trial innovative monitoring technologies over the next five years London St. Pancras Highspeed has announced a £300 million infrastructure renewal programme over the next five years The investment aims to maintain and improve the UK’s only high-speed railway line with a strong focus on asset performance and long-term resilience Included in the programme is a £4 million allocation for research and development aimed at trialling innovative technologies for asset renewal and monitoring This includes systems for remote condition surveillance to enhance efficiency and accuracy The CP4 programme is based on a comprehensive review of asset condition and performance undertaken to inform a 40-year renewal strategy The new investment will support ongoing high standards of reliability and performance as demand for high-speed services increases Details of the programme were unveiled at an industry event held at Ebbsfleet International station on 28 April More than 150 supply chain stakeholders attended including major rail and construction firms and SMEs specialising in design The event gave suppliers an overview of the upcoming renewals pipeline and future opportunities Focus group sessions invited feedback on R&D priorities and how to reduce barriers to market entry for new suppliers This control period will see the renewal of key assets to support both existing operators and future growth “Our unique funding model enables us to deliver renewals more efficiently and accelerate innovation without a penny of Government subsidy.” As a result of this efficiency, train operator charges on the high-speed line from St. Pancras to Folkestone will fall by 20% from April 2025 with station renewal charges dropping by around 30% , By No comments yet All subscriptions include online membership giving you access to the journal and exclusive content By By By Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a54eb7bb71c56bc38851a24c31119b6d" );document.getElementById("j0f0bb4fb4").setAttribute( "id" Write for us | Advertise with us Global Railway Review is published by: Russell Publishing Ltd.Court LodgeHogtrough HillBrasted © Russell Publishing Limited Website development by e-Motive Media Limited Pancras Highspeed has unveiled plans to invest £300M in infrastructure renewal over the next five years covering the period from April 2025 to March 2030 This funding for the business’ Control Period 4 (CP4) aims to maintain and enhance the UK’s only high-speed railway The investment programme includes a £4M allocation specifically for research and development This funding will support trials of new technologies designed to improve asset renewal efficiency and monitoring such as remote condition surveillance systems the condition and performance of railway assets are thoroughly assessed These assessments inform long-term strategies to ensure reliable operations for the next four decades The current plan reflects the findings of this extensive review and focuses on balancing performance with cost-effectiveness Details of the investment were presented at an industry event held at Ebbsfleet International station on 28 April the gathering brought together over 150 participants from across the rail supply chain including major firms and smaller enterprises specialising in design The event aimed to give suppliers insight into upcoming renewal projects and opportunities over the longer term Attendees also took part in discussions addressing research and development priorities the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises and challenges faced by new suppliers seeking to enter the sector improved operational efficiencies and renewal strategies have enabled a reduction in train operator charges on the high-speed line by 20% Charges related to station renewals are set to decrease by around 30% potentially easing costs for operators and customers alike London St. Pancras Highspeed, formerly known as HS 1 Ltd, earlier this year told NCE about its phased approach to increasing capacity at St. Pancras International station to enable it to almost triple its hourly customer limit to 5,000 “Our unique funding model enables us to deliver renewals more efficiently and accelerate innovation without a penny of government subsidy.” Like what you've read? To receive New Civil Engineer's daily and weekly newsletters click here. Tagged with: Enlarging the international departures area at London St Pancras station to greatly… High Speed 1 (HS1) and Network Rail High Speed have proven that… The new government isn’t the only major body making moves this month… A study has been commissioned to look into the options available for… with its design and operation as a fully functioning church set in a surprisingly green and peaceful enclave just minutes from St Pancras station and amidst the gritty inner-city locale of Somers Town It’s a full house tonight at close to 200 supportive attendees And with a blessedly mild spring evening on which the sun has just set as the strings start up right on 8pm (just as the church bells ring out the hourly chimes) The evening is set up as a triple headliner under the ‘Heartstrings’ banner with the songs being very much from and about the heart and with strings as the dominant instrumentation All three have only very recently started collaborating though it’s clear from the outset that they share plenty of musical ground in style And are enjoying the creative windows it is offering them Across the performers there is some straddling of folk Which is interesting in that Whitehead herself is the progeny of a notable jazz musician and producer her father Tim having a long and storied career as performer (perhaps most notably in Loose Tubes) His daughter Hattie opens with a light touch on the acoustic guitar such that her evocative vocal takes centre stage in the mix is a little vignette of a person’s behavioural quirks within a relationship ‘Mechanism’ is also guitar-lite so her vocal sits upfront  ‘Alive’ applies her soulful voice to describe living through both the lows and highs of human experience She has recently completed a tour as Hejira so clearly Joni Mitchell features in her influential portfolio (indeed she does a wonderful cover of ‘Coyote’ from that mighty album The second set is more mixed up (intentionally Whitehead sings in ‘In The Rain’ of her anger at being hassled by a man whilst out running during Covid Tessa Rose Jackson is also a treat to hear She has mentioned Laura Marling and Adrienne Lenker as amongst her influences and her delightful dreamy lightly psychedelic melodic songs stand comparison with these more widely known artists  Opener ‘By Morning’ is about “when you are in an argument with your partner and you know you are wrong.” ‘Gently Now’ is a tenderly poignant and melodic tune about the prospect of being haunted by her deceased mother with the harmonised vocals adding to the haunting effect ‘Anti-hero” considers the twists of dating in “modern day society” and then follows ‘When Your Time Comes’ which picks up to a gradual crescendo of both multi strings and voice after a soft subdued opening It’s a truly striking song a la Jesca Hoop or Sarah Jarosz ‘Prize fighter’ is another fine song about “the bully in your head” as she overcomes elements of self-doubt Edward Randell is the opener and serendipitously has a trio of songs all spring-themed One is ‘The Wild Garlic Time’ for which he shifts to electric to sing the “frisky ” song whilst later his ‘Hands’ narrates how a family Christmas game shows the entrenched memories that emerged during a light hearted yuletide interlude  One is reminded how songwriters are always attuned to how life offers material for their craft in any variety of situations Randell’s final song is the enticing ‘It’s A Little Creepy’ about the unexpected oddness he feels on settling down with his partner in his early 30s Throughout the evening the headliners are backed by the well drilled violinists Kit Massey and Paloma Deike along with Sally Wragg on viola Richard Phillips on cello with piano played by Loz Garratt who also managed the string arrangements Classic Clips: Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band “Carrie Brown” – Late Night with Conan O’Brien Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you enjoy what you're reading and don't want to support us on a monthly basis you can help us keep this site free from looking like one of those awful REACH sites by making a one off donation towards our running costs Be daring, be yourself, be willing to take risks and stand alone. Vanessa Collier’s music is gritty, raw, and at times, either downright sad or bubbling happy. As with most songwriters worth their salt, her songs […] “All of a sudden, time stood still, and we watched our plans and expectations float away like lost balloons.” For Angela Easterling, life began in South Carolina and, except for college years in Boston, has been […] Past, present and future are inseparable in her songs. There is an openness to Maya de Vitry that is refreshing to come by. Formerly in the Stray Birds, a bluegrass band, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-born musician is […] As always in these prescriptive articles there must be a drawing of boundaries and Clint’s first article in the series seemed to have dealt with the idea that you should define americana in a narrow sense […] Steve Earle announced his arrival in our lives with his debut album in 1986. Since then, he has racked up almost thirty studio and live albums under his own name or in collaboration with others. I […] I heard from a colleague,  who has contact with associates of Eric Taylor, that he had died on March 9th 2020 following a period of illness. I immediately checked the web for confirmation but there was […] Zurich and Bordeaux could appear on the departure screens I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Turning the arrivals area into a departure zone and using smarter security kit: that is how the man in charge of London St Pancras International intends to treble passenger numbers to continental Europe It has already been a busy week for proponents of more international trains between the UK and Europe On Tuesday Italian State Railways announced plans to launch trains from London St Pancras International to Paris including Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group On Wednesday London St Pancras Highspeed (LSPH) which owns the UK’s only current international rail station as well as the fast line to the Channel Tunnel published a study saying demand for international rail travel is set to triple by 2040 And on Thursday, Robert Sinclair, chief executive of LSPH, has revealed to The Independent’s daily travel podcast his hopes for the future there is the potential for the market in terms of passenger numbers to triple from 11 million passengers now to 35 million passengers in 2040 But the key thing is that the forecasts demonstrate that there's a real prospect of modal shift So more and more people want to catch the train It is more convenient – city centre to city centre connections.” is tempered with the constraint of a station that was never designed for the intensive passport checks negotiated by the UK after Brexit and the international departure area can strain to handle current Eurostar trains “If you just focus on the existing departure lounge area – or the international zone as we call it – it is quite constrained,” Mr Sinclair said When the much-delayed EU entry-exit system begins to be rolled out crowding is likely to increase – with fingerprints and facial biometrics collected from passengers Yet Mr Sinclair believes the Grade One-listed station can be reconfigured to handle three times as many passengers It's the arrivals area and it's sitting just opposite on the ground floor of the station At present all Eurostar passengers are pre-cleared for their destination with UK and French border checks carried out at the departure station rather than on arrival Yet the arrivals process at either end of the London-Paris Eurostar route is markedly different Passengers at Paris Gare du Nord simply walk out on to the main concourse arrivals are routed through something of a labyrinth: descending one floor using travelators or lifts to enter a large and cavernous hall before emerging into the middle of the station a little bit of utilisation of the existing space that is already there a little bit of using some of the techniques that we did in aviation we can create the space available to develop a significantly enlarged processing area for security the exit checks also out of the UK,” said the LSPH boss “With changing the nature of the security equipment that we use we can significantly increase the throughput of passengers – and that's the key constraint that we have at the moment “We're not constrained for platforms and we're not constrained on the high speed line So it's passenger throughput that we need to do “We have 50 per cent spare capacity on the high-speed line between here and Folkestone And the Channel Tunnel has similar capacity.” The rail equivalent of an aviation “slots” are known as a “path” – permission to run a train on a stretch of track at a particular time Most of the paths to and from London St Pancras International are used by Southeastern which runs a network of trains serving Kent there are four paths an hour available for [international] passenger services and Eurostar use two an hour,” Mr Sinclair said there is the capacity to double the level of services and we're looking at potential for a fifth path as well.” which has had the international rail market to itself for three decades A Eurostar spokesperson said: “Emerging competition in the international high-speed rail sector is another example of positive signals indicating growing demand for rail in Europe Growing cross-Channel rail is a race which Eurostar is firmly in “We’re confident in our leadership in this sector and excited about the future That’s why we’re investing in a new fleet of 50 trains and working with partners to improve capacity and connectivity Our ambition is to grow the market together — giving more people the opportunity to choose rail and enjoy world-class service." But Eurostar has sharply reduced the number of stations it serves the French Alps and Disneyland Paris have been scrapped and the Eurostar stations at Ebbsfleet and Ashford in Kent The St Pancras CEO says: “I do think there's a significant opportunity to expand the destinations beyond just Paris The other countries and cities that have been identified: certainly Germany “Switzerland is within range as well – so Geneva additional destinations in France: the likes of Marseille the pace of high-speed rail expansion is glacial it's not going to happen overnight,” says Mr Sinclair “The key there is the timeframe to actually order trains and to have trains manufactured – you can't buy them off the shelf “Italian State Railways in their announcement this week At present Eurostar extracts fares commensurate with its rail monopoly between London and Paris the lowest fare is £235 – twice as much as the cheapest flight between the capital Mr Sinclair says: “We’ve certainly seen evidence – clear evidence – on the Continent that with competition comes lower fares and lower ticket prices in the order of around 30 per cent less than current prices.” also the opportunity to open up a very significant market which exists because we do know that people are prepared to travel if there is a lower price point and that can open up a much larger market.” Mr Sinclair also explained the change of name from HS1 to London St Pancras Highspeed: “We really want to be a lot more proactive in the role that we take and also using our voice to actually get behind the growth of high-speed rail and to support our operators And we just couldn't do that with HS1: it wasn't known London St Pancras Highspeed is a trading name of the company HS1 Ltd itself is a subsidiary of Helix Acquisitions Ltd which owns the franchise to run the line and stations until 2040 Listen to Robert Sinclair, chief executive of LSPH, talking to Simon Calder on The Independent’s daily travel podcast Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies {"adUnitPath":"71347885/_main_independent/in_travel/in_news-and-advice/image/gallery_mpu_sb","autoGallery":true,"disableAds":false,"gallery":[{"data":{"title":"StPancras","description":"London St Pancras International","caption":"Next stop Italy? London St Pancras International, the UK's only current rail station serving Continental Europe Next stop Italy? London St Pancras International, the UK's only current rail station serving Continental Europe By 2024-12-12T16:25:00+00:00 UK: A study has found that international passenger capacity at London St Pancras station could be more than doubled to improve the user experience and potentially facilitate new train services Station operator HS1 Ltd commissioned the study from customer experience design agency Active Thinking which has worked on projects at Heathrow Airport the 2012 London Olympic Games and Gatwick Airport station It found that expanded infrastructure and enhanced border security processes could increase capacity from 1 800 to around 2 400 passengers/h in the next three to four years Redesigning the layout of the international area could see an increase of up to 5 000 passengers/h in the long term The current arrangements at St Pancras have led to long queues for check-in There is often only standing room available in the crowded departure lounge where passengers wait before boarding There is concern about these issues being exacerbated when changes to border control protocols such as the EU’s planned Entry Exit System Enabling more passengers to be processed would reduce the need for travellers to arrive well before departure time and provide capacity to support the potential launch of additional international rail services Last month the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Rail Group heard how Channel Tunnel concessionaire Getlink believes that the rail industry has reached a ‘turning point’ which could finally enable the launch of new operators competing with Eurostar Virgin and Evolyn are among those developing serious proposals for new cross-Channel services HS1 Ltd will now develop an operational delivery plan and undertake a full design study of how to implement the improvements whilst maintaining the heritage of the Grade I listed station ‘We are on the cusp of the biggest shake-up to high speed rail travel in a generation and increasing capacity at St Pancras International is one important step along the way’ said HS1 Ltd’s Chief Operating Officer Richard Thorp on December 12 ‘These findings show there is space to cater for more services presenting an exciting opportunity to enhance the passenger experience we can empower travellers to confidently choose the sustainable option of rail over air.’ EUROPE: High Speed 1 concessionaire London St Pancras Highspeed has announced a International Growth Incentive Scheme designed to encourage new and existing train operators to introduce services and increase passenger volumes on the route between London and the Channel Tunnel EUROPE: Gemini Trains becomes the latest company to set out plans to take on Eurostar on the cross-Channel route linking London with Paris and Brussels EUROPE: Virgin Group is seeking partners to invest in its planned launch of international high speed train services through the Channel Tunnel the Financial Times reported that Virgin Group is seeking to raise £300m in equity and £400m in debt Site powered by Webvision Cloud Science and New Things Eurostar scrambles to avoid capacity squeeze at St Pancras Brad Gray Eurostar has ramped up preparations for the introduction of much-delayed Brexit checks at St Pancras International station Bosses had hoped they could rely on a biometric check-in system that allows passengers to upload photographs of themselves to an app and scan their passport chip in advance Eurostar has spent big to double the number of physical pre-registration kiosks at the London terminus Extra capacity is needed to avoid mammoth queues at St Pancras the only UK station currently serving international rail passengers Eurostar trains haven’t stopped at Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International in Kent since 2020 which despite its name has never served international trains Changing that would relieve pressure on St Pancras, but Eurostar isn’t keen. Meanwhile, Eurostar’s passenger numbers are rising fast – so too is the appetite to end their monopoly. Academy confirms films made with AI can win Oscars Robots are running half marathons – but no records are under threat Denmark looks to Ukraine for attack drone training Signs of extraterrestrial life found on a planet far, far away Britain’s crumbling bridges pose a weighty problem Area 51 tower on Google Earth fuels online conspiracy theories UN agrees historic but inadequate deal on shipping emissions Royal Mail tweaks the design of the red postbox for the parcel age The FBI infiltrated a dark web money laundering scheme – then kept it going Dire wolves brought back from extinction, scientists claim AI ‘experts’ found giving comments for newspaper articles US student becomes the latest victim of internet unaccountability London’s flashy new river crossing leaves a lot to be desired A free newsletter from Tortoise. Take once a day for greater clarity. Google Play Store Follow: Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders Complete digital access to quality analysis and expert insights complemented with our award-winning Weekend Print edition Terms & Conditions apply Discover all the plans currently available in your country See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times Posted: 19 March 2025 | | No comments yet spoke to Global Railway Review’s Halimah Haque about their digital transformation including the use of augmented reality for asset maintenance and improving safety in harsh weather conditions Pancras Highspeed aims to create a completely data-driven railway we believe that the best way for us to effectively run the railway is to innovate influences our day-to-day operations and our long-term strategic planning Augmented reality plays a part in this vision informing how we interact with our customers – our Train Operating Companies – as well as passengers and stakeholders we’re coming to the end of our first five-year regulatory period with this vision during which we’ve made significant progress We’ve completed numerous trials through our R&D portfolio to learn how to integrate AR into our systems and build the necessary infrastructure As we start our next control period on 1 April 2025 we expect to see the results of these plans take shape Pancras Highspeed there are two core benefits for us in applying AR to our network There’s a ‘back of house’ benefit and a ‘front of house’ benefit The back of house refers to how we run our business while the front of house is about interacting with our passengers to make it a more exciting journey experience We believe that AR represents the future of understanding railway condition in relation to asset monitoring and maintenance engineers go out each night to inspect assets taking photos and carrying out visual inspections without really having any data from the previous inspection They usually record findings in paper form which is time-consuming and inefficient in comparison to newer ways of working engineers can access information from our asset management systems in real-time giving them insights into the performance of an asset over time and helping them make more informed It’s a gamechanger for more effective railway maintenance and inspection AR serves as a really good way to train our staff We’ve conducted trials where we’ve built 3D models of particular assets and provided engineers with headsets to virtually maintain and inspect them This allows our team to become familiar with the equipment before working on the real thing AR will have a significant and valuable impact across a number of areas We’ve got four international train stations handling around 50 million passengers a year It serves people coming in from continental Europe and it connects to the London Underground and Thameslink lines making it a highly dynamic station with constant movement What’s exciting is how our customer service and station operations could be transformed by augmented reality We’ve conducted small-scale trials in the past AR could link railway performance and station operations to customer service assistance enabling more proactive management of stations and crowds staff could better manage crowds and handle events potentially by being able to see live train performance in AR and simultaneously receive insights on how to handle it using data from past events held in our digital twin for stations if a special event or someone famous was coming to play the piano in our station AR could assist in managing the situation proactively new systems and data infrastructure are often needed proprietary and legacy systems may not have the necessary capability AR relies on geographic and geometric context Pancras Highspeed was built at a time when only 2D information was available We therefore need to produce 3D models and develop the digital capability to contextualise information We’re overcoming these challenges by digitising our information and processes over time Modern projects provide us with better data but it’s a long-term investment to ensure everything is fully digitised and compatible with AR technology We’re making steady progress and have identified the necessary building blocks Pancras Highspeed operates in a unique way with many of our partners running our stations and therefore they will have an important role in tracking the impact of AR we could track our station insight data to measure customer satisfaction in times of delays or incidents We might also monitor station occupancy and customer flow seeing how that changes over time to gauge AR’s effectiveness in improving operations Rather than focusing on a specific metric or KPI the real benefit for us lies in tracking how our plans and the feedback from our data changes over time We are still at the early stages of implementing this technology and I expect that our tracking and measurement will evolve over time I believe this is the biggest area to get right not just for augmented reality but for any digital change in the rail industry Our maintenance teams are very proud of their current processes so any proposed changes need to be explained clearly along with the benefits they will bring During our early research and development trials we worked closely with people who are experts in the technical delivery of AR This collaboration allowed us to present the technology to our maintenance and inspection teams in a risk-free environment This is where we introduce AR to engineers first demonstrate its benefits and ensure they’re comfortable with it before deploying it on the railway who deliver our maintenance and operations have just created a state-of-the-art training facility at their depot allowing us to showcase new technologies like AR If you combine augmented reality with remote condition monitoring and 3D asset mapping in extreme weather events maintenance can be done remotely from an office or even a trackside vehicle because we have the information and geometric context of the asset You can see the benefit particularly when it’s unsafe for our teams to be on-site we’ve done extensive planning over the last five years a new funding cycle will allow us to further expand and improve HS1’s operations We’ve already seen how our R&D funding and projects have had a powerful impact on operations The main goal of our R&D projects is to improve industry standards it must demonstrate that it’s significantly safer or more efficient than current practices Looking at global high-speed rail projects specifically we can take lessons from “digitally native” companies – ie: those that were digital from the start There are benefits for high-speed rail projects adopting this approach to reduce the overall life-cycle cost the CapEx (capital expenditure) to construct such projects is high the ongoing OpEx (operational expenditure) eventually exceeds CapEx over the project’s lifespan the long-term operation and maintenance costs are even greater We must invest in technologies such as augmented reality remote condition monitoring and cloud technology that bring down operational costs and deliver long term efficiency Many rail companies are still behind the digital transition incorporating these technologies early is essential to achieving sustainable operations at a lower operating cost over time for passengers and ultimately to get more people using the railway are worth it Scott Durno is the Head of Technology at London St the infrastructure owner for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and St Pancras International and studying for an MSc in Digital and Technology solutions at Northeastern University Scott is responsible for setting the strategic digital vision of the London St Pancras Highspeed railway and ensuring that its business and asset systems deliver a high-performing railway and exceptional customer experience Scott is an active member of tech-related industry forums and cares about promoting careers in infrastructure through technology-based careers Scott has previously worked in Europe and Asia on the digital design of football stadiums airports and life sciences campuses before moving into digital infrastructure By No comments yet By "a1b00f66e58ddef8c481c73319d5eae2" );document.getElementById("j0f0bb4fb4").setAttribute( "id" Posted: 4 April 2025 | | No comments yet Pancras Highspeed announces financial incentives to encourage new international services London St. Pancras Highspeed (the new trading name of HS1 Ltd) has unveiled an ambitious International Growth Incentive Scheme aimed at boosting international rail travel from London to Europe The scheme offers significant financial incentives for train operators to increase services and deploy new rolling stock on the UK’s only high-speed railway will offer discounts on the Investment Recovery Charge (IRC) which is paid by operators to run services on the line Operators can receive discounts of up to 50% in year one offering a £1 rebate for every additional passenger carried above previous levels paid into a joint fund to support marketing and growth activities the high-speed line running from London St Pancras Highspeed aims to maximise international services described the initiative as a “groundbreaking proposal” designed to encourage operators to expand their services and invest in new rolling stock “Our ambition is to make rail the preferred mode of travel to Europe and we know that high-speed rail can reduce carbon emissions by up to 96% compared with flying.” The International Growth Incentive Scheme is available to all international high-speed passenger service operators using or proposing to use the high-speed line It consists of two components: the New Services Incentive which rewards operators for increasing passenger volumes The proposed scheme follows a Memorandum of Understanding between London St Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel to collaborate on reducing journey times and incentivising more trains and new routes The consultation for the scheme has been launched today with the consultation period running until 7 May 2025 Pancras station’s international passenger capacity is set to more than double accommodating up to 5,000 passengers per hour over the next decade and beyond The increased capacity aims to meet the growing public demand for international rail travel A recent survey found that 60% of Londoners support banning short-haul flights where high-speed rail alternatives exist Pancras Highspeed operates the UK’s only international high-speed rail link It contributes £427 million in economic benefits annually to the UK and continental Europe with cumulative benefits of £4.5 billion since the company was granted the concession The high-speed rail service has also helped reduce annual emissions equivalent to 60,000 short-haul flights As part of its Five Year Asset Management Plan Pancras Highspeed will reduce charges to operate on the high-speed line by 20% and station renewal charges by 30% The International Growth Incentive Scheme is set to run until 31 March 2035 subject to the consultation process and Office of Rail and Road (ORR) approval The scheme is expected to generate £40 million to £60 million in incentives over three years London St. Pancras Highspeed owns and operates the UK’s only international high-speed rail link The company has contributed significant economic and environmental benefits including reducing carbon emissions equivalent to 60,000 short-haul flights per year , , , No comments yet "a891f3f0e689e8d623aaedbe1fa29cb0" );document.getElementById("j0f0bb4fb4").setAttribute( "id" Many barriers – logistical and commercial – must be overcome before trains run Germany and Italy I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Could the departure boards from London St Pancras International see new destinations? That is the hope of station and rail link operator London St Pancras Highspeed and the owners of the Channel Tunnel At present, Eurostar is the only passenger train service through the tunnel a monopoly it has enjoyed since services began in 1994 Eurostar runs trains to Lille, Paris, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Since Brexit, the number of destinations it serves from London has shrunk, with Eurostar abandoning routes to the Mediterranean, the French Alps and Disneyland Paris Train calls at two stations in Kent and Calais on the French coast have been cut due to the additional red tape the UK negotiated after leaving the European Union The British demand to be subject to the EU’s new Entry/Exit System has severely limited the number of passengers that can be handled All of this is bad news for the track and tunnel operators. The 68-mile HS1 rail line from London to the Channel Tunnel has plenty of spare capacity London St Pancras Highspeed is simply the brand name used by HS1 Ltd, which has the concession to run the line from London to east Kent through to 31 December 2040. It earns money from the current Eurostar and Southeastern trains It is the French firm that runs the Channel Tunnel and operates the LeShuttle car- and coach-carrying trains between Folkestone and Calais Getlink charges around £20 per passenger carried through the tunnel – is keen to extract more from its expensive asset says: “Eurostar is committed to being the most sustainable form of international travel when it comes to carbon emissions the carbon footprint of travelling on our trains is 95 per cent less than flying.” the international rail guru known as The Man in Seat 61 adds: “90-95 per cent of Eurostar trains arrive on time or within 15 minutes competing short-haul flights typically manage only 65-70 per cent by the same standard as well as more comfortable and convenient.” St Pancras International was never designed with the expectation that British passengers would need to have facial biometrics and fingerprints taken before a trip to France and beyond. Eurostar has been capping capacity on trains to avoid excessive crowds at its London hub But the station owner believes it can increase passenger throughput from the current maximum of 2,200 per hour to nearly 5,000 per hour – “in a bid to unlock the untapped potential of the iconic London station and high-speed line” Eurostar says: “In preparation for the upcoming European Entry/Exit System (EES) we have significantly invested in border capacity doubling our processing capability to ensure even greater efficiency in 2025 and beyond.” The cunning plan from London St Pancras Highspeed: Eurostar will add services “Several companies have expressed an interest to run international train services on HS1,” says London St Pancras Highspeed “We are considering their needs and the potential for much greater foot traffic at St Pancras Station as we develop longer-term asset plans.” Evidence from the thriving high-speed network in Spain suggests fares will fall standards will improve and far more people would choose the train if competition is allowed to flourish Spanish start-up company Evolyn and Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group are developing proposals for rival services Initially any new operator will compete to and from Paris Eurostar is making record profits thanks to its monopoly the cheapest London-Paris train fare is £109 – three times more than easyJet and Vueling from a range of London-area airports Initially Eurostar all but killed off flights between London and Paris but the number of daily departures between the English and French capitals is now back to levels last seen in 1994 before the Channel Tunnel opened – largely as a result of high prices chief executive of London St Pancras Highspeed talks of “new destinations unlocking the potential of a fully connected Europe” Getlink says direct trains could run from London to: said: “We are keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon mobility with a range of new destinations in Germany There is even talk of a route to Milan in Italy Channel Tunnel rail services were always intended to range far more widely than simply a shuttle from London to Lille we have seen the welcome extension of some trains to Rotterdam and Amsterdam But there are far fewer routes than originally intended Having London – the largest city in western Europe – as the UK hub should be a key advantage Many people would prefer to travel by train to nearby foreign destinations Standards on rolling stock used through the Channel Tunnel are rigorous and expensive to meet Eurostar has retired some trains but these have been scrapped rather than sold on Even if a supply of trains can be procured the next problem is finding a commercially viable market Cologne – and nearby Dusseldorf – would be natural routes from London But even with simple one-change connections at Brussels and a journey time as low as 4h10m few travellers bother: nine daily flights link each German city with London the cheapest flight is £34; the lowest train fare No fewer than 35 flights from London serve the three airports in the Italian business capital Hundreds of millions of pounds were spent on trains and infrastructure to allow direct trains from Scotland northern England and the Midlands to run to Continental Europe Routes such as Edinburgh to Paris and Manchester to Brussels were timetabled None of the kit was ever used as intended. The opening of the undersea link in 1994 was immediately followed by the surge in budget flying, with easyJet and Ryanair offering cheap and quick international flights. Map reveals dramatic variation in number of theft offences in different boroughs News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A new interactive map reveals London’s robbery hotspots as Jenson Button’s wife spoke about how “unsafe” the capital feels after her suitcase with £250,000 worth of jewellery and designer handbags was stolen outside St Pancras station A man swooped past the couple as ex-F1 driver Button, 45, helped a chauffeur load Brittny’s luggage into a car following a romantic getaway to Paris wheeling the pink suitcase through the streets around the railway terminal and British Library revealed the case contained countless sentimental objects and antique jewellery from her wedding and the birth of their daughter plain clothes officers managed to arrest Aid who later pleaded guilty to the theft in February UK records sunniest April on record as temperatures soar into May Hundreds of workers at Ofgem balloted for strikes in dispute over pay and jobs Two Met Police horses injured in attack by dog while out on patrol BBC announces documentary and shows for Live Aid 40th anniversary He has been remanded in custody for sentencing Figures published by the Office for National Statistics reveal Westminster has the highest overall rate of thefts and robberies in the year up to December 2024 It is followed by the boroughs of Lambeth (2,321 and 18,946 respectively) and Camden (1,814 and 27,051) where bag snatcher Aid struck Kingston upon Thames had the lowest number of recorded robbery and theft offences followed by Richmond upon Thames (297 and 6,024) and Sutton (313 and 5,040) Last week, the Standard revealed figures showing that pickpocketing was up 38 per cent and shoplifting up 48 per cent in a year The Met Police and City of London Police recorded 944,823 total offences in the year up to June 2024, a rise of 5 per cent on the previous year, according to data from the Office for National Statistics Westminster City councillor Laila Cunningham called for improved CCTV coverage and police patrols in the Queensway area to deter criminals London’s most notorious phone snatcher Sonny Stringer, 28, was jailed earlier this year for stealing 24 phones in one morning The ordeal left Mrs Button (née Ward) in tears as she claims she has “no interest” in returning to the UK because of how “unsafe” it feels the interior designer told MailOnline: “I was kind of shocked How like unsecure everything felt [in London] just so many people They bought their Spanish-style mansion in 2021 and tied the knot in March 2022 Mrs Button said she had heard “countless stories” from people who have gone through similar noting how the capital “doesn’t feel the same” as it did when she first started dating the Formula One driver 10 years ago British Transport Police Detective Sergeant Marc Farmer said: “This was a brazen and opportunistic theft by a man who took advantage of the victim and her husband having their backs turned for a matter of seconds while loading up their car with luggage “He was able to quickly swipe the suitcase without them even noticing which hammers home just how sneaky these sorts of criminals really are and why it’s so important to keep one eye on your belongings at all times “While the incident wasn’t captured on CCTV we were still able to trace Aid through other investigative opportunities and he was arrested by our plain clothes officers just days later.” Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Boutique Hotelier St Pancras Renaissance Hotel has secured a new financing deal to support a new phase of refurbishment at the iconic Grade-II listed property Law firm Blake Morgan has advised the Manhattan Loft Corporation as borrower on a multi-million pound refinancing package provided by National Westminster Bank plc for the hotel the St Pancras Hotel was designed by renowned architect Sir George Gilbert Scott and is considered to be a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture Pancras Hotel is immediately recognisable as one of London’s great landmarks. It has been a pleasure to work again with the expert team at Manhattan Loft and we are proud to have been able to play a part in the evolving story of St Pancras.” the hotel comprises 245 bedrooms across Chambers Suites and Barlow Wing There is the Booking Office bar and restaurant Hansom Lounge and MI + ME and the more formal The Gilbert Scott restaurant There are also 10 meeting and event spaces Check if you already have access from your company or university By 2025-01-29T05:00:00 UK: Almost 40 companies have so far expressed interest in a contract to further develop plans for the expansion of facilities for handling international passengers at London St Pancras station Already have an account? LOG IN You’ve reached your limit of content for the month Register for free now By 2025-02-14T11:00:00 UK: High speed line infrastructure concessionaire HS1 Ltd has rebranded as London St Pancras Highspeed Einaudi surprises St Pancras station with impromptu piano performance Einaudi has played an impromptu concert at St Pancras International Station International classical phenomenon Ludovico Einaudi has given a concert in St Pancras station much to the delight of the crowd who were lucky enough to catch the event The Italian pianist and composer – known as the ‘King of Calm’ – performed some of his best known works which will be released on January 31 on Decca Records Einaudi performed the special concert whilst in between two sold-out concerts at the London Palladium adding a much-needed dose of calm to the otherwise hectic atmosphere of one of London’s busiest terminals Read more: If Einaudi had written ‘Für Elise’? Pianist reimagines Beethoven’s piano miniature He is not the first superstar to use St Pancras’ vast space for musical performances, with the St Pancras piano being played by international superstar pianist Lang Lang, as well as John Legend Grammy Award winners Alicia Keys and Nora Jones have also showcased their musical talents in the station’s main arcade Public piano performances have become a part of the culture at the London terminal Pancras piano becoming a hit with the public Pianos were first introduced in 2012, when the City of London Festival celebrated its golden anniversary and have remained available to play ever since. This iconic transport hub is now home to two public pianos, the most recent of which was generously donated by Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals to ensure that music remains part of the atmosphere at the station Read more: Isata Kanneh-Mason and Classic FM’s Tim Lihoreau play charming duet at St Pancras station piano The station’s main arcade – where the pianos are hosted – has grown into a hub of cultural activity creating a strong sense of community and a lively destination for exciting arts activities “Our station is proud to be known as a hot spot for musical performances creating an exciting and lively experience for travellers and shoppers alike We are delighted that Ludovico Einaudi chose to stop in and perform for our visitors in between his sold-out shows in London this week,“ said Wendy Spinks Chief Commercial Officer at St Pancras International and HS1 Ltd “We have no doubt that his evocative music and surprise performance will have brought smiles to all.” We look forward to more surprise performances at the station in the future See more Einaudi latest features Global Awards Discover Music See more Best classical music Ravel Events Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Simon Calder | Saturday 22 February 2025 07:19 GMT Trains could soon go direct from St Pancras International in London to cities such as Milan, Frankfurt and Geneva in under six hours as the station looks to expand its capacity for European travel with the help of different train operators believes the increase in connections across the continent will be "really competitive with short-haul air travel" Meanwhile, Getlink, the company behind Eurotunnel, said it is "keen" to push forward "attractive opportunities for low-carbon mobility". Kim Kardashian wears Marilyn Monroe’s dress As Baltimore begins the process of planning to replace the Francis Scott Key Bridge, labor experts have pointed to how Latino workers will be the one who rebuild it. Anderson Clayton attends the North Carolina Young Democrats Convention in Durham. Decomplicated thumbnail about bedbugs explainer Woman runs London marathon topless after her double mastectomy Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, right, and Wrexham's Ollie Palmer pose with trophy at the Racecourse ground in Wrexham, Wales Defeat to Chris Eubank Jr ‘hard to swallow’ for Conor Benn Chris Eubank Jr (right) and his father, boxing icon Chris Sr Freddie Flintoff recalls second-by-second how cricket helped him survive horror Top Gear crash. Freddie Flintoff reveals frightened young son wouldn’t go near him after horror Top Gear crash. Eddie Hearn storms off stage at Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn press conference. Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes Googlebox stars stuck in Jamaica as Hurricane Beryl makes landfall: ‘I want to get out’. Cars swept away in New Mexico flash floods after wildfires charred the region Lady Gaga plays show to estimated 2.1m fans at free beach concert Sian Welby on why she kept pregnancy hidden from This Morning bosses. Prince Louis caught brushing down Price Williams jacket during VE Day celebrations The 1998 diesel has been converted into a stylish two-bed Beckham luciendo su peinado mohicano antes de un amistoso internacional contra México en 2001 All Eurostar trains to and from Paris are cancelled until the end of the day, with normal services expected to resume on Saturday Local rail traffic will start to return to normal from 17:00 GMT, the transport minister says, after French police evacuated 200 people from homes in Saint-Denis Officials say the size of the 500kg bomb is "really quite exceptional" "We're completely stuck," one group of travellers tell the BBC from Paris, while others face a long journey as they head for the city via Lille with Hugh Schofield reporting from Gare du Nord The discovery of an unexploded World War Two bomb near Europe's busiest train station overnight led to major disruption for many travellers in London and Paris We are closing this live page now but you can read more here. The bomb was found in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMajor motorway reopens in Paris - AFP reportpublished at 16:52 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March16:52 GMT 7 MarchMore now from France's Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot who says the A1 - a major motorway connecting Paris with northern France - has reopened Tabarot says the large amount of explosive in the bomb was "quite rare" and it was "not a trivial operation" making the area safe He adds nearly 300 police officers were mobilised to secure the area after the discovery of the bomb Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'We're stuck in Paris and will have to get an overnight bus home'published at 16:42 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March16:42 GMT 7 MarchAnthony and Rachel travelled from Swansea to Paris via London to see Kwoon The pair only planned on staying for one night but following the cancellation of trains back to the UK they'll now have to catch an overnight bus back to Wales The pair say their car is still stuck in London and their dogs are still in kennels back home adding there are "lots of extra costs" that they hadn't initially planned for Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingLNER offer refunds to passengers impacted by disruptionpublished at 16:25 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March16:25 GMT 7 MarchTrain operator London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has offered its customers who have been affected by today's Eurostar cancellations a number of alternative options: Customers can also claim a full refund if they don't plan to travel by train due to the disruption either through their LNER account or if the ticket was booked via a third party Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingThe situation is complex says Eurostar's chief officerpublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March16:12 GMT 7 MarchWe can now bring you comments from Eurostar's Chief Safety and Stations Officer Simon Lejeune Asked why Eurostar cancelled all services today and whether this could change if domestic railway services resume Lejeune says the situation is "complex" Speaking to the BBC before the French transport minister confirmed the WW2 bomb had been defused, Lejeune says they thought it was the "better option" to cancel all 32 services between London and Paris today because it would give passengers "clarity" amid the "uncertainty" The chief officer says he is "incredibly sorry" for the travel disruption today and the issues customers have faced accessing the Eurostar app He tells passengers to "please bear with us" adding travellers should be able to access the website to change their booking Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingNo surprise in the discovery of WW2 bombpublished at 15:51 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March15:51 GMT 7 MarchHugh SchofieldParis Correspondent The bomb was found at a depth of two metres at a building site about a mile north of Gare du Nord where rail workers were putting up a new bridge over the railway lines There was no surprise in the discovery of this bomb because there was a bomb expert with the crew that were doing the digging That's because this area was so widely bombed by the Allies during World War Two that there was a strong risk of finding ordnance there they have to treat it as a serious risk to human life seal off the area and dispose of the bomb and that's what's been happening today Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWW2 bomb defused French transport minister sayspublished at 15:31 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March15:31 GMT 7 MarchBreakingHugh SchofieldParis correspondent The operation to make the unexploded WW2 bomb safe has concluded successfully and rail traffic will start to return to normal from 17:00 GMT “We are delighted and relieved that it’s over," says Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingSize of bomb is 'quite exceptional' French transport minister sayspublished at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March15:19 GMT 7 MarchImage source The discovery of the unexploded WW2 bomb has caused travel disruption to train services across Paris says the discovery of an unexploded WW2 bomb of this size is "really quite exceptional" The vessel is estimated to weigh about 500kg and was found "near the tracks" in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis Tabarot says: "Finding bombs around the railway network is something that happens like the one today with a bomb of this size Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWatch: Long queues and large crowds in Brusselspublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March15:05 GMT 7 MarchThis video can not be played Let's bring you footage from Brussels now where crowds of passengers have been asked to find alternative travel to Paris after their trains were cancelled Eurostar services that had departed from Amsterdam to Paris this morning were also forced to stop in the Belgian capital Anna says she will miss her event but has at least managed to book on to a train heading to Paris tomorrow Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingServices between London and Paris to remain suspended todaypublished at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March14:31 GMT 7 MarchNick JohnsonReporting from London St Pancras Eurostar services between London and Paris will remain suspended for the rest of the day even if French regional trains begin operating from Gare du Nord Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingParis Eurostar services to resume tomorrowpublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March14:17 GMT 7 MarchBreakingEurostar has confirmed services between Paris and London and Paris and Brussels will resume on Saturday "Eurostar will run two additional trains: a train leaving London for Paris in the morning and a train leaving Paris for London in the afternoon," Eurostar says Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing'We're completely stuck': Travellers struggle to find other ways homepublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March14:07 GMT 7 MarchImage caption Jess (centre) has been celebrating her birthday in Paris - but now finds herself stranded there her husband and best friend Sarah arrived in the French capital on Tuesday but are now unsure how they will get home “We’re frantically on our phones trying to find out what to do," she says All the flights are booked up so at the moment we are completely stuck in Paris with no way of getting home “Do we get a hotel and risk trying to get the Eurostar home tomorrow Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharing200 people evacuated from operation site state services saypublished at 13:51 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March13:51 GMT 7 MarchAs part of the operation to secure the site where the WW2 bomb was found 200 people have been evacuated as their houses led directly into the impacted area According to Préfet de la Seine-Saint-Denis who provide updates on state services in the area a 500 metre security perimeter has been established around the unexploded bomb Other people located in the vicinity of the operation are asked to stay in their homes until French police and experts have carried out their work to ensure the device is safe and secure Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhat do we know about the unexploded WW2 bomb?published at 13:31 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March13:31 GMT 7 MarchImage source The discovery of the WW2 bomb has caused plenty of travel woes - but what do we know about the device The World War Two bomb is estimated to weigh about 500 kg and was found "near the tracks" in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis Maintenance workers carrying out overnight works discovered the bomb around 03.30 (02:30 GMT) head of rail infrastructure management unit SNCF Reseau tells AFP that the bomb's size was "really quite exceptional" especially here north of Paris where there were also many factories," he says As bomb disposal experts work to disable the device we're yet to find out more details on when the bomb may have been dropped who dropped it and if it is dated before or after the 1940 occupation of Paris by Nazi Germany Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhat you need to knowpublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March13:12 GMT 7 MarchIt's just passed 13:00 in London and 14:00 in Paris Let's take a look at the latest updates: Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWatch: French police secure site of WW2 bombpublished at 12:57 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March12:57 GMT 7 MarchThis video can not be played French authorities say they have secured the site where an unexploded World War Two bomb was discovered on the railway tracks during overnight works As we reported earlier, authorities have blocked off an access point to French railway company SNCF's freight area in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis where the bomb was found Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWhat are my rights as a Eurostar customer?published at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March12:38 GMT 7 MarchKevin PeacheyCost of living correspondent Wider compensation is a little more complicated Claims need to be made via a form on the website, external within three months Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPassengers leave Gare du Nord to spend another day in Parispublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March12:21 GMT 7 MarchHugh SchofieldParis correspondent All Eurostar services to and from Paris have been cancelled for the rest of the day The bomb was found overnight by workers renovating track about a mile north of the Gare du Nord no trains have been allowed to enter or leave the station At first there were big crowds of confused travellers milling inside the station but most Eurostar passengers have left now resigned – or in some cases – happy to be staying an extra day Railyards around Paris were regular targets of British and American bombers in World War Two and this is far from being the first time that ordnance has been discovered and part of the Paris ring road has been closed The latest news is that a partial resumption of services may be possible from mid afternoon Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWatch: Large crowds in London and Paris after cancellationspublished at 12:04 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March12:04 GMT 7 MarchThis video can not be played Unexploded World War Two bomb discovery delays Eurostar services orderly queues have formed at London's St Pancras station and at Gare du Nord in Paris after Eurostar cancelled all trains between the two destinations for the rest of the day The services were cancelled after the discovery of an unexploded WW2 bomb near Gare du Nord station Щоб переглянути сайт, увімкніть JavaScript у своєму браузері The scale of the city and the specific qualities of a neighbourhood have shaped the architects' first foray into commercial development in London Architect Peter St John does not mince words about the standard of commercial development in London: ‘unsophisticated’ and ‘depressing’ are among the printable judgements. Offices tend either to glassy banality or gauche attention-seeking, and have a deadening effect on public space. ‘There aren’t many commercial buildings one can really admire,’ he says. ‘It’s not an area of great creativity.’ St Pancras Campus is Caruso St John’s first foray into the field in this country, and the architects set out with an agenda. ‘We wanted to do something that respects the scale of the city and makes reference to the particular architecture of the neighbourhood,’ says St John. ‘It’s about looking closely and doing things that are specific.’  ‘The mix is the interesting thing,’ says St John. ‘You can make something that feels truly urban.’  That is bringing rapid change to the immediate environs – a patchwork of waves reflecting historic development. To the west are 18th-century gridded brick and stucco terraces. At its north-east corner the site meets a bridge over Regent’s Canal, which attracted industry from the 19th century. To the south is a 20th-century layer of low-density sheds and larger lumps of post-war reconstruction. By splitting the development into separate buildings with a site-wide basement, Caruso St John could adjust its scale to the surroundings. The office block filling the southern end of the plot rises to seven storeys, but with pronounced set-backs from the fourth floor. Approaching along Royal College Street, you don’t see the building until you are almost on it. The architects were concerned that homes should have equal prominence and not be hidden in the hinterland. Five and six-storey blocks fill out the remaining corners of the squarish plot. Deep balconies look onto streets on three sides. Together with the roof terraces of the office building, they should enliven the upper levels.  Street facades also make subtle reference to their context. There is allusion to the area’s red and white Victorian buildings – from the adjacent Golden Lion pub to St Pancras station – in the trabeated facades of the office building. Spandrels of russet sandstone sit between hefty ground-bearing piers of chalky, rough-textured concrete.  These elements recur at smaller scale in the apartment buildings, where Caruso St John added brown brick that echoes nearby houses and green tiled facades behind the loggias – a nod to the decoration of a pub across the canal.  Office facades are composed on a heroic scale, with the concrete piers giving expression to an unusually large 12m structural grid and consequently beefy steel frame. Square ‘knots’ at every floor level articulate structural connections within, and lend an almost classical note. There’s also a deliberate evocation, says St John, of Camden’s optimistic 1960s housing schemes.  If there’s a lot going on, it comes together – in every sense – at the corners. Due both to the irregular plot and a steep fall across the site, all are slightly different. In the office building, sandstone folded to make Miesian inverted junctions is coupled with pairs of conjoined concrete piers, tied with extra ‘knots’ in intricate flourishes that catch the eye in oblique views. Corners of the residential blocks also received special attention. At the canal bridge, flat brickwork meets the ends of open loggias in an ambiguous asymmetry. ‘We tried to create “faces”, not just facades,’ says St John. ‘It gives the buildings more figure and feels unusual because housing is normally “background”.’ Look closely and a wealth of rich detail emerges, even in the humbler ‘backs’. Stone fascias extending from balconies are recessed neatly into brickwork. Green tiles meet brick in precise mitre joints. Glazing is set flush with masonry. ‘When you inset a window it looks familiar and banal,’ says St John, ‘but continuity of the surface can be used to shape buildings in a more sculptural way’.  Such an abundance of diverse incidents is held together by the clear coherence of an architectural system. Unlike similar-sized London developments, where picturesque variety is contrived by parcelling out pieces to different architects, here a formal order is confidently asserted. ‘We were trying to achieve a piece of designed urbanism,’ says St John, ‘in which all the different purposes had dignity.’ Natural materials add warmth and comfort to common parts. Grey felt ceilings soften the acoustic, and oak battens line walls. They might also represent unseen efforts to reduce energy use: air-source pumps supply all heating, and insulation exceeds code. The structure is, of course, carbon-intensive, but timber was precluded by regulation, says St John, who would now prefer to work on reuse than new buildings. Across the sheltered little square, the housing represents another form of responsible development. Though W·RE has never developed homes before, it opted for the long-term commitment of build-to-rent for its own portion. The interior specification of social rent flats in the second block is different but the facades and common parts are identical. Lobbies evoke the gracious living offered by 19th-century apartment buildings in central Europe. Glazed oak screens open onto beautiful floors of inlaid grey terrazzo, and walls lined in tiles of almost iridescent green. With sandstone balustrades and canal views from the roomy loggias, it makes some of the finest social housing seen in years.  This will be a good place to live or work. Caruso St John’s creative approach to difficult problems  has created something rich and distinctive for inhabitants. The campus is good for the city beyond its perimeter, too, helping to anchor a neighbourhood in transition. It shows that with imagination and collective will, speculative commercial development can take from its place, and give back in equal measure.  Latest articlesRIBAJ Spec: Architecture for Housing and Residential Development Webinar20 May 2025SpecRIBAJ Spec: Architecture for Housing and Residential Development Webinar Baillie Baillie Architects used contemporary techniques while drawing inspiration from local traditions What does neuroscience tell us about what to promote or avoid in facade design Sign up to receive regular briefings, updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com Sign up to receive regular briefings, updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com updates and our weekly newsletter – all designed to bring you the best stories from RIBAJ.com The Local Europe ABVästmannagatan 43113 25 StockholmSweden Robert Sinclair, chief executive of HS1, which owns the station and the high-speed rail track running to the Channel Tunnel, told the UK's Financial Times newspaper that a study had found space for international passenger numbers to increase from the current capacity of 1,800 an hour to nearly 5,000 "There is an amazing opportunity for high speed rail connectivity throughout Europe and we want to feed into that," he told the paper suggested that the 19th-century London station could handle up to 2,400 international passengers per hour within three or four years without the need for major renovation work simply by creating additional security lanes and employing more staff parts of the station’s ‘international zone’ could be redesigned to allow passenger numbers to rise further But these plans would involve changing the layout of security and immigration areas that the plan hinged on the French government providing more immigration officers which is out of the control of St Pancras bosses With increasing demand for international rail travel Eurostar is keen to expand its offering while a number of number of groups are exploring the possibility of starting rail services between Europe and the UK But the problem has always been the post-Brexit passport arrangements at London's St Pancras station which is the UK’s only international rail station following the closure of Ebbsfleet and Ashford The longer passport checks and passport stamping required since Brexit have created major problems for passenger flow at the cramped international area at St Pancras - and Eurostar has been forced to scale back its services with a consequent increase in ticket prices Passengers go through airport-style security French passport control and UK government departure checks before boarding trains heading through the tunnel to Europe There are concerns that impending EES and ETIAS requirements will only make the current situation worse Eurostar's then-CEO Jacques Damas wrote in a letter to the Chair of the Transport Select Committee in the British Houses of Parliament that: "We have upgraded French passport gates in St Pancras and more UK gates are now going into Paris We are installing an extra French control booth in London (where space is extremely constricted) peak capacity through the stations is c.30 percent lower than pre-Brexit St Pancras can currently process a maximum 1,500 passengers per hour vs “It is only the fact that Eurostar has capacity-limited trains and significantly reduced its timetable from 2019 levels that we are not seeing daily queues in the centre of London similar to those experienced in the Channel ports.” In another development likely to be welcomed by passengers Sinclair told the FT that he wanted to shorten the required check-in times for Eurostar passengers returning them to something closer to the pre-Brexit situation of arriving 30 minutes before departure He said: "We want a ‘turn up and go’ arrangement get through security and wait in the departure lounge this will likely depend on both British and French passport control arrangements Please log in here to leave a comment By 2024-07-16T15:11:00 EUROPE: High speed line concessionaire HS1 Ltd has appointed ‘experience design’ agency Active Thinking to undertake an in-depth study into expanding passenger capacity at London St Pancras International station to cope with increased demand for international travel and the potential arrival of competitors to Eurostar Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. United Kingdom Italy and SwitzerlandPlans are underway to almost triple the station’s capacity and introduce routes to destinations like Frankfurt Well, nothing can be actually be done with that extra capacity unless London’s St Pancras International station gets a mega expansion.  London St Pancras Highspeed (formerly HS1) has agreed to work with Getlink the people on charge of the Channel Tunnel to ‘grow international rail connectivity between the UK and Europe’ the new services probably wouldn’t begin until at least 2030 Potential operators would need time to acquire trains and get permission to operate on both sides of the channel.  the chief executive of London St Pancras Highspeed said: ‘Joining forces with Eurotunnel is another exciting step on our journey to realise a future where high-speed rail is the preferred option for travelling to Europe ‘As we see demand for international rail travel grow we have an important role to play as key infrastructure managers to actively work together to encourage new and existing train operators to expand capacity and launch new destinations unlocking the potential of a fully connected Europe.’ Did you see that British passport holders will soon need to pay for a visa to visit Europe? Here’s EES and ETIAS explained.  Plus: 3 British beaches are the best in Europe, according to Trip Advisor.  Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.   Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! About Us Contact us © 2025 Country & Town House.All rights reserved Towering over travellers at 11 metres tall St Pancras International’s Wicked Christmas tree it took a band of 20 expert craftspeople more than 4,000 hours to create St Pancras station’s 2024 Christmas tree Complete with hand-painted details mirroring the action of the upcoming film (in cinemas 22 November) the festive green tree reflects the beauty of the Emerald City which sits at the centre of Wicked a musical delving into the untold story of the witches of Oz which first debuted in 2003 Pancras International Christmas Tree has become a fixture in London’s festive calendar and we understand the importance of bringing something spectacular and unique to the station for visitors to enjoy,’ shares Wendy Spinks the opportunity to partner with Universal Pictures on their only Wicked Christmas tree in the UK was an easy choice and we look forward to welcoming guests from across the country Wicked will arrive in UK cinemas on 22 November As the release of the first ever film adaptation of the globally successful musical fast approaches more than two decades later St Pancras has teamed up with Universal Studios to create a beacon of striking green and opulent gold highlighting the splendour of the film and the almighty brightness of the Emerald City More than 100 towers house tiny windows which guests can discover Ozian booths featuring photo opps a hidden hand-crafted diorama of the land of Oz awaits featuring more than 1,000 miniature flowers and an illuminated yellow brick road linking Shiz University the castle Kiamo Ko and The Governor’s Mansion a Wicked x Lush pop-up shop will also open and toiletries inspired by the film’s characters and just 250 exclusive mini soap replicas of the Wicked Christmas tree Pancras International to bring the world of Wicked to life through this enchanting Christmas tree,’ says Erika Lewington ‘The central London station’s spectacular architecture provided the perfect Ozmopolitan backdrop for this cinematic moment We hope the wickedly dazzling experience enriches peoples’ journeys and brings a touch of magic to one of London’s most iconic destinations.’ The St Pancras Wicked Christmas tree is now on display at St Pancras International station (Euston Rd. and so big you can’t miss it – just head to the main concourse Subscribe to Country & Town House in print or the app to make sure you get the very best of property Country & Town House is an introducer appointed representative of Wealthify Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Country & Town House acts as an introducer appointed representative for the purpose of promoting Wealthify products and introducing customers to Wealthify Login For assistance please contact Our Customer Service on: Tel: +44(0)20 8955 7020. Email: musicweek@abacusemedia.com Please enter your email so we can send you password reset link An email has been sent to you containing a link to reset your password Ludovico Einaudi has played an impromptu concert in-between two sold-out shows at the London Palladium at St Pancras International Known as ‘The King of Calm’, the Italian pianist and composer gave an intimate piano performance of songs from his new album, The Summer Portraits, due to be released on January 31 via Decca.  Public performances at St Pancras have become a well-known part of the station’s culture when the City of London Festival celebrated its golden anniversary and have remained available to play ever since The station is now home to two public pianos the most recent of which was donated by Andrew Lloyd Webber Musicals “Our station is proud to be known as a hot spot for musical performances creating an exciting and lively experience for travellers and shoppers alike,” said Wendy Spinks chief commercial officer at St Pancras International and HS1 Ltd “We are delighted that Ludovico Einaudi chose to stop in and perform for our visitors in between his sold-out shows in London this week We have no doubt that his evocative music and surprise performance will have brought smiles to all.” For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to receive our daily Morning Briefing newsletter You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site Nick Abbot is Leading Britain's Conversation Brittny Button has said she thinks London is ‘unsecure’ and ‘chaotic’ after she was targeted while coming back from a romantic getaway in Paris was helping a chauffeur load his wife Brittny’s case into a car when a man swooped past and snatched her case He disappeared before they even realised the bag was gone The suitcase contained more than £250,000 worth of items including two Kelly bags totalling around £70,000 as well as sentimental and antique jewellery However plain clothes officers arrested the thief after CCTV footage was circulated to teams in and around St Pancras station Read more: Woman accused of killing dinner guests with deadly Beef Wellington 'ate from different plate,' trial hears Read more: Fly-tippers could face up to five years in prison, under new government proposals pleaded guilty to theft at Westminster Magistrates Court on February 19 Brittny now says she has ‘no interest’ in ever returning to the UK because of how ‘unsafe’ it is She told MailOnline: “I don't really have many things from my parents I don't really have many family heirlooms and I wish I did “I'm normally pretty cautious when I'm out in public and travelling but I just didn't think that there were gangs literally just waiting for people and watching.” “My husband and I we really have no interest going back to the UK and it's a shame we will have to go back for family and work.” Mother-of-two Brittny will likely never retrieve her stolen items which where listed online only days after the incident British Transport Police said: “A 41 year old man pleaded guilty to theft at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 19 February 2025 “BTP received a report from the victim that she had arrived at St Pancras on the Eurostar with her husband around 12.30pm and began loading a car on Pancras Road with their luggage “As the victim’s husband turned to load her suitcase into the car Neither of them saw it being taken and reported it to a BTP officer at the station “The case contained several designer bags and jewellery including bracelets and rings of sentimental value with the overall value estimated at in excess of £250,000 “Detectives from BTP viewed CCTV and identified a man walking into the station with the victim’s case at around 12.35am and was seen walking back out of the station via the Midland Road exit “CCTV images were circulated among local BTP teams and one officer recognised the man in the CCTV to be Mourad Aid He was then arrested by plain clothes officers in the Hatton Garden area on 17 February “Aid has now been remanded in custody until sentencing.” See more More Crime News See more More UK News See more More Topics Sign up for our email to enjoy London without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) London There are a lot of train stations in London. That naturally means a lot of foot traffic, a lot of delays, and at times, a less than pleasant travel experience. Although St Pancras isn’t one of the worst for cancellations nor is it known for being as hellish as Euston it’s still not as efficient as it could be conducted by Active Thinking on behalf of St Pancras station operator HS1 has found that its capacity could be nearly doubled They reckon that this could be done by improving border security and redesigning the layout to give more room to the departure lounge where there is often nowhere to sit while you wait for your train If more passengers could be processed by border agents people wouldn’t need to arrive until later in turn reducing pressure on the waiting area beyond All of this could also allow for the biggest change of all: new international rail providers entering the scene At present, the only company which operates international trains from St Pancras is Eurostar, but others want to get involved. Virgin and Evolyn have both shown serious interest in becoming competitors for the cross-channel provider and it might not be too long before they get the chance which owns the railway: ‘We are on the cusp of the biggest shake-up to high speed rail travel in a generation and increasing capacity at St Pancras International is one important step along the way ‘These findings show there is space to cater for more services presenting an exciting opportunity to enhance the passenger experience.’ HS1 will now create a plan of action in response to the findings which will balance its recommendations alongside ensuring they honour the heritage of the station it could be even easier to get to France without all the struggles going through an airport First look: inside Kentish Town tube station after its 18-month glow-up. Are you dreaming of a white Christmas? Here's London’s Christmas day weather forecast for 2024 Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city tiktokfacebooktwitteryoutubeAbout us Read one of the UK’s favourite restaurant critics Enjoy wine expert Jancis Robinson’s peerless column of news Enjoy Alice's popular HTSI column about drinks and bar culture Learn what's new and trending according to our our award-winning HTSI food columnist She broke out tracks including ‘Christmas Magic’ and ‘From Re Start’ Laufey has surprised people in St The surprise moment took place yesterday afternoon (December 18) at the London train station where the singer sat by a piano and treated onlookers to live renditions of some tracks Among the songs she performed was the festive classic which was then followed by her hit single ‘From Re Start’ Another track she broke out was the song ‘Christmas Magic’ which is an Amazon Original and featured in the Christmas film Red One from Amazon MGM Studios Laufey olvidando la letra de 'from the start' -seria perfectamente ella jiji pic.twitter.com/ayORQh9rOu — 🇲🇽mexican lauvers (@mexicanlauvers) December 18, 2024 Laufey cantando 'Christmas Magic' en St ©️laufey_our_magnolia en IG pic.twitter.com/mQr7YsgSDX — 🇲🇽mexican lauvers (@mexicanlauvers) December 18, 2024 Pancras Station en Londres para su mini presentación ❄️ ©️laufey_our_magnolia pic.twitter.com/zvq1zP0DAE — 🇲🇽mexican lauvers (@mexicanlauvers) December 18, 2024 Laufey cantando 'from the star' en St ©️laufey_our_magnolia en IG pic.twitter.com/AieY5SksJf — 🇲🇽mexican lauvers (@mexicanlauvers) December 18, 2024 As well as delighting fans this week by making the surprise appearance at St Laufey also made a debut appearance on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge on Tuesday (December 17) Both events come ahead of her appearance on The Graham Norton Show as part of the Christmas Special episode That is set to premiere on BBC One tomorrow evening (December 20) For Laufey, the show at St Pancras and the slot on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge come on the heels of her taking home the Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for her second studio album, ‘Bewitched’ In a five-star review of the record NME described it as “confident and musically ambitious “The Icelandic-Chinese star’s second record ‘Bewitched’ enchants in its own beautiful “Richly detailed orchestral arrangements and her masterful musicality – the multi-hyphenate is an acclaimed cellist and studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston – support her thoroughly Gen Z ripostes.” Speaking to NME for The Cover last year, Laufey shared her dream of bringing jazz to the masses. “I always said to my mom, I remember when I was 11 in the car, ‘I want to do for jazz music what Taylor Swift did for country music’,” she told us I feel like I’m getting closer to that goal of bringing jazz back to my generation.” The world’s defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952 Welcome to building.co.uk. This site uses cookies. Read our policy A festival focused on the future of digital construction By 2025-01-28T13:29:00+00:00 Eurostar wants to boost passenger numbers to 30 million by the end of decade The high speed rail line which links London with the Channel Tunnel is looking for an architect team to design an expansion of the international platforms at St Pancras Station HS1 has launched a tender process to rethink parts of the grade I-listed station to support plans by Eurostar the cross-Channel rail service which uses the line to expand passengers numbers from the current 19 million to 30 million by the end of this decade.  St Pancras station is the London terminus of Eurostar’s cross-Channel service The contract notice follows initial feasibility work for the scheme undertaken by design consultant Active Thinking This study looked into the likely numbers of passengers which would need to be accommodate in the international part of the station and the required operational and design interventions HS1 said this work had identified the expansion is feasible and it is now ready to progress the proposals to RIBA stage two This is expected to see a reconfiguration of the ground floor of the Eurostar areas of the station to allow a “significant uplift” in passenger capacity that will meet forecasted requirements to at least 2035 Interested teams have until 12 February to send in bids DESNZ will boost green skills under its Warm Homes Plan through financial awards  150 Aldersgate was fully pre-let to social media giant prior to completion and includes new terraces a reconfigured entrance and a public art installation The former prime minister has said the government’s energy policy is doomed to fail Thomas Lane asks what this means for Britain’s decarbonisation ambitions Former Interserve subsidiary posts turnover of £542m for 2024 The centre will contain buildings up to nine storeys in height Plans designed by Gensler for a £1bn cancer research and treatment centre in south London have been submitted for planning by developers Aviva Capital Partners and Socius Search More results... In partnership with Universal Pictures, this year’s Christmas Tree is themed around new movie musical Wicked The huge 11 metre tall tree is billed as an ode to the Emerald City featured in Wicked based on the global blockbuster stage musical when star of the movie Jeff Goldblum sat down and played at the public piano next to the Wicked tree Jeff is in town for the European premiere of Wicked, which took place on 18 November at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Reviews have started to come in for the big-budget movie version of Wicked. View this post on InstagramA post shared by Universal Pictures UK (@universalpicturesuk) Around the Wicked-themed Christmas tree at St Pancras are immersive Ozian booths for plenty of Wicked photo opportunities In the tree itself features over 100 intricately illuminated towers housing tiny windows each highlighting characters from the film In the centre of the tree hidden in windows is a diorama of the wonderful land of Oz boasting hand-crafted detail.The to-scale replica of the entire land of Oz linked by an illuminated yellow brick road to the Emerald City The tree took 20 expert craft people over 4,000 hours to create Grammy and Tony winning Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba multi-platinum recording artist Ariana Grande as Glinda The film also stars Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh Fellow Travelers) and actor Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz Wicked arrives in UK cinemas on 22 November 2024 News of a number of cameo appearances in the Wicked movie are also starting to come out including the show’s composer Stephen Schwarz Marketing Director at Universal Pictures International said in a statement: “We are delighted to partner with St Pancras International to bring the world of Wicked to life through this enchanting Christmas Tree The central London station’s spectacular architecture provided the perfect Ozmopolitan backdrop for this cinematic moment We hope the wickedly dazzling experience enriches peoples’ journeys and brings a touch of magic to one of London’s most iconic destinations.” Wicked is also playing live in London’s West End Read more about Wicked The Movie Also, Book tickets to WICKED at the Apollo Victoria Theatre London UPDATES: First published 6 November 2024; Updated 21 November 2024 Comments and reviews are subject to our participation guidelines policy, which can be viewed here Our policy is for readers to use their REAL NAMES when commenting Sign-up for Offers Shows | Offers | Musicals | News Please note: All tickets are subject to availability. Ticketing powered by members of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers [Read more] Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy Plans are underway to almost triple the capacity of London’s St Pancras station which will bring about new train services to European destinations like Frankfurt The move will bring about access to new routes in countries like Switzerland with regular services that could accommodate up to 5,000 passengers an hour Getlink have said that direct services could serve Frankfurt and Cologne as well as Geneva and Zurich Eventually services could reach as far as Milan The company aim to compete with the current cross-Channel route Eurostar offers direct trains only to Paris It also runs seasonal ski services to Bourg-Saint-Maurice in the French Alps.  The service originated in London’s Waterloo station Demand for international train travel has been on the rise over the last few years and talks of bringing new train companies to the tunnel to increase services have been going on for quite some time Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Evolyn – a new company set up by investors in National Express – are among the rival operators seeking to capitalise on the station’s expansion Its designers predicted that by this year traffic would be double the present level the new services probably wouldn’t begin until at least 2030 A signed agreement between London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink includes a commitment to shorten journey times better co-ordinate timetables and run more trains each hour for international services in both directions It said that the “enhancements will make rail travel faster said: “We are keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon [travel] with a range of new destinations in Germany This partnership with London St Pancras Highspeed is essential for accelerating this momentum.” Related: Eurostar resumes direct Amsterdam-London services Read more We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected] Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected] © The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy © The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy visited St Pancras International during the early hours of 28 March on a test run from Leeds via the Midland main line The ‘800’ was being used as part of the operator’s ongoing work exploring ways to keep passengers moving during engineering works when parts of the East Coast main line are shut LNER is currently investigating options to divert into alternative London terminals and in July 2023 one visited Liverpool Street No 800108 ran from Leeds to Doncaster before heading to Chesterfield and then on to London via the MML The train left Leeds at 23.20 arriving at St Pancras at 03.31 LNER teams carried out various safety and validation checks before returning north Further work is needed before LNER Azumas can carry passengers into St Pancras but LNER sees this test as ‘an exciting step towards looking at the potential of offering passengers more options and freedom to travel during engineering work.’ said: ‘While planned engineering work is vital in delivering infrastructure upgrades and keeping the rail network safe LNER is looking at how it can keep its customers on the move and minimise disruption to journeys when engineering work is being carried out but this is an encouraging development for future service options.’ Subscribe to Key Modern Railways now to access the wealth of information on offer completely ad free Subscribe now Key Publishing Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales with Company Number 2713662 London St. Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel have announced a landmark partnership to accelerate the growth of cross-Channel high-speed rail marking a pivotal step towards transforming sustainable and efficient international travel between the UK and Europe The UK’s only high-speed rail infrastructure operator share a commitment to expand rail connectivity on both sides of the English Channel both parties will cooperate more closely to lay the foundations for increased cross-Channel rail traffic with the aim of creating new routes and destinations along the line The parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which outlines a variety of important steps designed to deepen collaboration on innovation and engineering initiatives These include exploring opportunities to shorten journey times and align more closely on growth strategies as well as working together to introduce more trains each hour for international services in each direction These enhancements will make rail travel faster more efficient and widely available – aiming to make rail travel the preferred transport option to the continent The MoU follows the announcement of a new study by London St Pancras Highspeed which highlights the potential to increase current international passenger capacity in St Pancras up to nearly 5,000 per hour in a bid to unlock the untapped potential of the iconic London station and high-speed line As champions of sustainable transportation Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel are committed to advocating ‘rail first’ public policies and will actively collaborate with governments to emphasise the environmental advantages of rail journeys under six hours says: “Joining forces with Eurotunnel is another exciting step on our journey to realise a future where high-speed rail is the preferred option for travelling to Europe “As we see demand for international rail travel grow Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel have an important role to play as key infrastructure managers to actively work together to encourage new and existing train operators to expand capacity and launch new destinations unlocking the potential of a fully connected Europe.” CEO of Getlink says: “As an open access infrastructure Eurotunnel is the pioneer in enabling growth of high-speed rail between the UK and Continental Europe We are keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon mobility with a range of new destinations in Germany Pancras Highspeed is an essential catalyst for accelerating this growth momentum.” a Virgin Group spokesperson commented: “Full-steam ahead for competition as another barrier is lifted on the cross-Channel route London St Pancras Highspeed is working hard to unlock competition on the cross-Channel route and the new International Growth Incentive Scheme is a welcome step in the right direction It will stimulate choice and encourage both new and established operators to be dynamic and creative.   “Today’s announcement means Virgin can further accelerate its plans which is great news for consumers on both sides of the Channel as they will finally get the choice and breadth of service they deserve Virgin looks forward to sharing its plans in more detail in due course CEO of Gemini Trains said: “We have spent 2 years developing a very robust business plan prior to today’s announcement This will further strengthen our plan for competitively priced fares attracting more people to make the shift from road and air to rail We are now seriously assessing whether this scheme will enable us to offer additional new and exciting routes.” Rail Business Daily’s market leading news and profile enhancement services enable your business to tell your story to the wider rail community Engage with thousands of readers via our rail news platforms including the hugely popular 7am newsletter rail news website and Rail Director magazine you agree to us sending you emails on behalf of railbusinessdaily.com