London St Pancras to Brussels Midi

The Route of the Eurostar

London St Pancras before its transformation was always one of London's grandest stations and was opened in 1868 by the Midland Railway. It is a grand Victorian gothic station with a single arched trainshed roof it is fronted by the former Midland Grand Hotel. At the time the great arched trainshed roof was considered a true engineering wonder and was the largest single span enclosed space in the world. In its heyday the hotel was one of the grandest and most opulent in London. Sadly it closed in 1935. In its heyday London St Pancras was the starting point for journeys to the East Midlands, Nottingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, West Yorkshire and Scotland via the famous Settle & Carlisle line. It was the starting point for famous express trains such as the Thames-Clyde Express, the Thames-Forth Express, the Waverley, the Yorkshireman, the Palatine, the Peak Express, the Robin Hood and the Master Cutler. The existing station and concourse is actually built on a deck above the famous “undercroft” which was originally used to store beer barrels from Burton on Trent.

In 1998 work started on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link linking the Channel Tunnel to London, section 2 of which goes to London St Pancras.  The CTRL section 1 to Fawkenham Junction opened in 2003 and in 2001 work commenced on the section 2 to London St Pancras. The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is now known as High Speed 1 (HS1). As part of this a major £800 million restoration and transformation of London St Pancras station began to turn it into a world class iconic Eurostar terminus from 2007. On the 14th November 2007 St Pancras International reopened and, together with King's Cross, became Europe's largest passenger interchange. Over 50 million passengers pass through these sites every year, on a par with London's busiest airports. London St Pancras as part of its transformation was designed not just as a terminus, but as a destination - 'Europe's destination station'.

This iconic station has been preserved in a compelling blend of new and old, creating a grand station. The iconic trainshed has been transformed and restored to original condition and a new glass trainshed has been added at the outer end of the station to cater for the long Eurostar trains and the platforms for domestic trains on either side that are now part of the expanded London St Pancras. Thus London St Pancras International has become a unique London landmark delivering the best performing transport destination experience in Europe through operational and service excellence. The transformation of London St Pancras has re-defined the railway station for the 21st Century. This magnificent restoration and transformation has created a truly iconic destination station and recaptured the glamour, romance and elegance of the Golden Age of Rail Travel while giving it a contemporary 21st century twist. London St Pancras is truly "The Queen of Railway Stations" and one of our great national treasures and a true railway icon. Indeed it arguably is Britain's equivalent to New York's Grand Central Terminal station.

The transformed London St Pancras International has 15 platforms:

• Six for international Eurostar services
• Three for high-speed domestic services to Kent
• Four for Midland Mainline services to the East Midlands and Yorkshire
• Two below-ground platforms for Thameslink cross-London services

St Pancras International has become a truly grand 'destination station' to take the UK into the high speed train age with Eurostar and High Speed 1 (HS1), formerly known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, linking London and the UK to the European high speed rail network for the first time. Once more the station will become the place to meet. Its design has even created a distinct series of spaces with this in mind. There is even a great bronze statue called "The Meeting" created by a leading London sculptor, Paul Day, located under the famous St Pancras station clock to draw people to meet. Also on the concourse of the station, acknowledging his pivotal role in saving St Pancras station in the 1960s,  there is a bronze statue of Sir John Betjeman by British artist, Martin Jennings. The station has been divided into four distinct zones:

The Rendezvous:

• This area is the platform level from where Eurostar departs on its high speed journey to the Continent. The Rendezvous zone features the Champagne Bar "1868" (which is Europe's longest champagne bar at over 90 metres long), a gastro pub "The Betjeman Arms" and a brasserie "Brasserie St Pancras".
  

• This area is at street level by the main entrance. The Circle zone features favourite high street brands for travellers on the go.
  

• This area is in the station undercroft. The Arcade zone features an individual mix of independent and boutique retailers combining the continental charm of Belgium and Paris, and cutting edge London design.
  

• This area is located where the old St Pancras meets the new. The St Pancras Market is a daily farmers market offering fresh produce with a contemporary twist plus gifts, arts and crafts.
  

St Pancras Chambers (the former Midland Grand Hotel) has been transformed by the Manhattan Loft Corporation into a 245 bed 5-star Marriott Renaissance St Pancras Hotel London with 69 apartments and penthouses in the upper levels. It will also have 2 restaurants, 2 bars, a health and leisure centre, a ballroom, and 20 meeting and function rooms.

Throughout this “Through the Window” guide we describe views as being left or right from the train facing in the direction of travel out of London.

London St Pancras International to Ebbsfleet International:

On departing London St Pancras International the Eurostar high speed train to the Continent via the Channel Tunnel heads north, to the left the link with the West Coast Main Line via the North London Line can be seen joining before the line swings over the East Coast Main Line. On the right can be seen the massive new Kings Cross Central development that is getting under way located on the former Kings Cross locomotive shed site.  After crossing the East Coast Main Line our train dives into tunnels (the London Tunnels) that take it through to Stratford International station.

Stratford International is a major interchange with connections with domestic services at Stratford Regional station for services out of London Liverpool Street to East Anglia, the Docklands Light Railway, London Underground and the North London Line. Stratfrord Regional station is located to the south of Stratford International station. Stratford International station is also set at the heart of the new Stratford City, a magnificent new metropolitan centre for East London, built on the former railway marshalling yards. Stratford International is also close to the Olympic Park where the London 2012 Olympics are to be held. This area is home to the Olympic Village and the Olympic International Zone. For the Olympics in 2012, 25,000 spectators will be moved every hour from St Pancras International to Stratford International by a fleet of new Japanese style bullet trains, the Olympic Javelin. A journey that will take just seven minutes - that's some Olympic record...

On leaving the Stratford International station the Eurostar dives into tunnels (the London Tunnels) once again before emerging at Dagenham. Here on the left there is a junction with the existing railway lines for use by freight trains. The line then continues alongside the existing railway lines and the Purfleet by-pass to Rainham on the left, with views of the River Thames to the right, before flying over the Dartford Tunnel road exit on the Thames Viaduct and then under the QEII Bridge approach spans at Dartford.

Then the line disappears into another set of tunnels (the Thames Tunnels) at West Thurrock to pass underneath the River Thames before emerging at Ebbsfleet International (www.ebbsfleetgateway.com). This station is located near Dartford and is close to the M25 and M2 motorways and so offers excellent park & ride facilities. This is also where the link line onto the North Kent Line leaves the CTRL to the left enabling domestic high speed trains from London to go to Gravesend and the Medway towns. The station is also set at the heart of the new Ebbsfleet City as part of the rebirth and regeneration of Ebbsfleet Valley and the Kent Thameside area. At Ebbsfleet International station there is a plaque honouring Pocahontas, the famous North American Indian who is buried near Gravesend. Pocahontas spent a year in England and arrived in Gravesend in 1617 to set sail for her home in Virginia, North America but became ill and died in Gravesend aged only 22. It is also close to the Bluewater shopping centre near Dartford.

Ebbsfleet International to the Channel Tunnel:

On leaving Ebbsfleet International the line runs south east through the Ebbsfleet Valley to Southfleet Junction. This is where Eurostar trains used to leave the high speed line and continue into London Waterloo via Fawkenham Junction via existing lines before the CTRL Section 2 to London St Pancras opened in 2007 and all Eurostar services moved to London St Pancras. From here the high speed line follows the M2 and A2 past Gravesend before striding across the River Medway on the Medway Viaduct which is parallel to the existing motorway bridges on the left. It continues to parallel the M2 corridor until Rochester where it dives into the North Downs Tunnel to Detling in the Boxley Valley north of Maidstone. The line then follows the M20 corridor to the right before crossing the M20 west of Ashford. The train then reaches Ashford International station. Just after the station there are junctions to allow domestic train services from east and north east Kent to join the high speed line to London. On leaving Ashford International the Channel Tunnel high speed line then follows the existing railway lines to Dollands Moor freight yard where its two tracks separate to pass either side of the freight sidings. The train then enters the Channel Tunnel complex at Cheriton near Folkestone where the Eurotunnel terminal complex for the Eurotunnel Shuttle trains is passed before the Eurostar enters the UK portal of the Channel Tunnel.

The Channel Tunnel:

The Channel Tunnel is the longest undersea tunnel in the world. The section under the English Channel is 38 km long. The three tunnels (two rail and one service tunnel), each 50 km long, were bored at an average 40 m below the seabed, and link Folkestone in England with Coquelles in France. It is operated by Eurotunnel.

The Channel Tunnel to Lille Europe:

On exiting the Channel Tunnel's French portal the Eurostar passes the Channel Tunnel complex at Coquelles where the Eurotunnel terminal complex for the Eurotunnel Shuttle trains is passed before reaching Calais-Frethun station. Here it joins the LGV Nord high speed line to Paris. After Calais-Frethun station the LGV Nord high speed line crosses the A26 motorway at Zouafques. At Cassel there is a junction for trains from Dunkerque to join the high speed line. Then the line passes villages of Hazebrouck (on the right) and Armentieres (to the left). Next at Lambersart, some Eurostars leave the LGV Nord high speed line to call at Lille Europe station.

Lille Europe to Brussels Midi:

After Lille Europe those trains that called there then rejoin the high speed line at Lezannes before continuing to Fretin junction. Here a triangular junction links the LGV Nord high speed line to the Lille to Brussels Belgian high speed line (HSL1). This Belgian high speed line (HSL1) was opened in 1997. Here Eurostar trains to Brussels diverge from the TGV LGV Nord to Paris and join the Belgian HSL1 to Brussels. The line then crosses the French / Belgian border at Wannehain and enters the 365 m Bruyelle cut and cover section before emerging onto the 483 m Scheldt River Viaduct. The line then reaches Antoing where a connector line from the Mons - Tournai line joins. Then between Chievres and Ath the line crosses the 2005 m long Arbre Viaduct (one of the longest railway viaducts in Europe) which takes the line over the Ath-Blaton canal, the Dender River, the Mons road and the Ath - Jurbise railway line. The HSL1 "Le Coucou" maintenance depot at Ath is then passed. Then at Enghein the high speed line parallels the classic Tournai to Brussels line for 10 km. From Enghein to Rebecq the HSL1 parallels the A8 autoroute. Finally we reach the Lembeek Viaduct and join the classic lines into Brussels. The line then crosses the Brussels-Charleroi Canal before entering its cut and cover section at Halle. We then pass the Brussels Forest depot used by Thalys and Eurostar and parallel the classic lines into Brussels Midi which is entered via the new viaduct built in 2006 to separate the high speed services from the local services.

The Manneken Pis, a 60 centimeters high bronze figure in the city, is a famous tourist attraction. Another landmark is the Cinquantenaire Park with its triumphal arch and museums.  So Brussels is a very interesting, cosmopolitan and international city which is home to many international institutions.