According to the BBC, Eurostar has declined to run services from the new £210 million Stratford International station. A Freedom of Information request uncovered minutes from a DfT meeting in January noting this – although Eurostar categorically denies having made such a decision.
The BBC’s Tom Edwards quotes the Mayor of Newham as saying:
“It’s exciting we have a government that is committed to high-speed rail. But in Stratford International we have a station that is only international by name. That simply does not make sense. This is meant to be the jewel in the crown of the much-heralded transport network and Eurostar trains are nowhere to be seen. Transport was key to securing the Games and International transport will be essential to securing a legacy for East London.”
News on the Modern Railways site that Eurostar has begun its year round service to the South of France –
http://www.modern-railways.com/view_article.asp?ID=8892&pubID=37&t=0&s=0&sO=both&p=1&i=10
@Melvyn, 6 May 2015 at 23:05
With a 75 minute stop inbound to St Pancras for immigration purposes! I don’t remember procedures at the Iron Curtain taking that long back in the 80s coming back from East Germany and they nearly took the entire train apart looking for escapees. Looks like the time spent stationary at Lille will be more than the total flight time for a similar journey by air.
@ Mark T – well exactly. Anyone who did an Interrail back in 80s or 90s would have experienced border checks as you describe. I’ve done the train into and out of West Berlin more than once and the border checks were relatively quick. Heck even having to get off the train and march through Turkish immigration at the Bulgaria / Turkey border at 0200 in the morning at the time of the first Gulf War didn’t take 75 mins!
The “Man in Seat 61” did the initial service and reported the Lille “check” went smoothly and the train managed to make up 20 mins late running (arrived 55 late due to problems in France and left Lille 35 mins late). Whether it will always be that smooth with drinks and chocolate cake laid on I very much doubt. I’d very much like to use a direct train to Lyon but the enforced alighting at Lille on the return puts me off I’m afraid. And I’ll stop there for fear of triggering inappropriate debate.
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