https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/spring-has-sprung-for-gwr-passengers/68315.article

How do these plans fit in with the UK government requirement for entry checking before boarding?  or is there a secret plan to join Schengen?

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.

London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink have signed an agreement that will help them to commit to expanding rail connectivity between the UK and Europe.

Strangely, it seems to have disappeared from Real Time Trains altogether.

The station's name comes from the St. Pancras parish, whose name originates from the fourth-century Christian boy martyr Pancras of Rome.

Pancras (Latin: Sanctus Pancratius) was a Roman citizen who converted to Christianity and was beheaded for his faith at the age of fourteen, around the year 304. His name is Greek (Πανκράτιος Pankrátios), meaning 'all-powerful'.

St Pancras plans ...

New direct train routes from London to Germany, Switzerland and France could open as part of plans to boost passenger numbers at St Pancras station.

London St Pancras Highspeed, which owns the station and operates the track to the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, has already set out proposals to increase capacity for international train travel from 1,800 passengers per hour to almost 5,000.  It now wants to attract different train operators to offer a range of services in Europe.

Eurostar currently holds a monopoly on the trains through the Channel Tunnel with routes to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink have signed an agreement that will help them to commit to expanding rail connectivity between the UK and Europe.

"Many European cities could be reached directly by train in under six hours which we believe is really competitive with short-haul air travel," said a spokesperson for London St Pancras Highspeed.

Yann Leriche, chief executive of Getlink, which owns Eurotunnel, said: "We are keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon mobility with a range of new destinations in Germany, Switzerland and France."

Getlink believes it is possible for train services to Bordeaux, Cologne, Frankfurt, Geneva, Marseille and Zurich to be created.  No set timeline has been revealed as yet.

Eurostar dropped services between London and Disneyland Paris in June 2023, and no longer has routes between London and the south of France.

Virgin Group and Evolyn are two companies developing plans for rival services to Eurostar that could take passengers to the newly proposed destinations.  Virgin acknowledged that it would be a "huge undertaking" to establish a new cross-Channel operator but said the route was "ripe for change with plenty of room and potential for new competition at St Pancras and through the Tunnel".

Competition between different companies on the route would benefit all customers, a spokesperson added.  London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink have signed an agreement that will help them to commit to expanding rail connectivity between the UK and Europe.

Robert Sinclair, chief executive of London St Pancras Highspeed, said demand for international train travel was growing.  He said his company would work with Getlink "to encourage new and existing train operators to expand capacity and launch new destinations unlocking the potential of a fully connected Europe".

Ian visits reports on some figures from the Mayor of London on TfL report reveals the cost and challenges of introducing driverless tube trains
https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/tfl-report-reveals-the-cost-and-challenges-of-introducing-driverless-tube-trains-79316/


Which raises the old question Ooose gonna pay?

It would be very interesting to know what suggested availability of these IEP units was, at the time of acquisition, compared to what is achieved.  It looks as if there is an extremely thin amount of cover for failed units.  In a lot of cases, it seems to me, no cover at all.  A breakdown means a cancelled diagram, and that's that.  And to hell with the passengers' plans

15:23 London Paddington to Worcester Foregate Street due 17:47 will be cancelled.
This is due to a broken down train earlier today.
Last Updated:21/02/2025 14:35

18:02 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington due 20:29 will be started from Worcester Shrub Hill.
This is due to a broken down train earlier today.
Last Updated:21/02/2025 14:39

The report candidly states that upgrading to GoA3 or GoA4 on some lines would be value for money. It’s just that it costs an awful lot of money to deliver the value for money.

The Mayor’s answer last December broke the numbers down:

    Bakerloo line – £4.4 billion
    Central line – £10 billion
    Piccadilly line – £4.9 billion (on top of the new trains already on order)

I've had the following message when viewing threads a couple of times this morning and the same thing a couple of days ago.

"A quick answer from our receptionist
The "Coffee Shop" is a popular and busy forum, and you have been calling for a lot of complex pages in a very short time. Are you real? If you are, and you keep getting this message, please get in touch with the admin team (address below)."

Dealing with these issues - again - this morning.   You may notice some slower responses or even no response or being turned away while I find out what's been going on overnight.