Former Eurostar route in Belgium

[straller]

Hello everyone,

Does anyone know what route did Eurostar use to get to Brussels before the construction of HSL 1?

 

[Polarbear]

There were a few routes available to Eurostar, but the main one at first as I recall was through Tournai, Ath & Enghien. The trains transferred onto the domestic network at Lille.

When the first part of the HS line to the Belgian border opened, I seem to remember going through Mons on one occasion.

Whilst it was entertaining, it was rather slow before the HS line was built into Brussels.

 

[straller]

Thanks! I assume this is why the 373s had 3kV DC equipment. Do they even use that anymore?

 

[DownSouth]

Thanks! I assume this is why the 373s had 3kV DC equipment. Do they even use that anymore?

I believe it is still used between Brussels-Midi and HSL1, where the trains run on the classic Bruxelles-Paris route for about 20 kilometres.

 

[straller]

Thanks!

 

[dutchflyer]

Of course they might well need it in case of disruption.
The way via MOns is very unlikely-as it is also quite far/roundabout from the old lines, but in special cases any other route may have been taken once.
The route south of BRU is partly newly built to connect it faster into the HSL (mostly for the THAlys)-the long viaduct toward the old line 96 is new, as is the underground stastion and 4 or 6 tracks underneath HAL(le).
In BE they number all their lines and this is even always mentioned in official government decrees about them.

 

[straller]

If they might need the 3kV DC equipment in case of disruption, why did they remove the 3rd rail shoes? Should there be engineering works on the HS1, the only option is to use a route that is part of the SR 3rd rail network.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

If they might need the 3kV DC equipment in case of disruption, why did they remove the 3rd rail shoes? Should there be engineering works on the HS1, the only option is to use a route that is part of the SR 3rd rail network.

How would they access any part of the 3rd rail network to make that viable? The only possible bit I can think of would be the short stretch between Ashford and the tunnel.

 

[straller]

How would they access any part of the 3rd rail network to make that viable? The only possible bit I can think of would be the short stretch between Ashford and the tunnel.

There is also Fawkham Junction, located south of Ebbsfleet, that leads onto the Chatham Main Line. This was used before Phase 2 was complete.

 

[DownSouth]

What routes exist from 3rd rail land to St Pancras that the TMST sets cleared to use?

Other connections from CTRL to classic lines are right near the tunnel for freight trains going to the Dollands Moor terminal, and somewhere in the stretch between the North London tunnels and the Thames tunnel for freight going all the way to terminals in the London area.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

There is also Fawkham Junction, located south of Ebbsfleet, that leads onto the Chatham Main Line. This was used before Phase 2 was complete.

Yes, but if you leave HS1 there, you can't get to St Pancras can you?

 

[DownSouth]

Yes, but if you leave HS1 there, you can't get to St Pancras can you?

No different to the CTRL-classic links at Ashford and Dollands Moor then?

Serious question though: if the CTRL was to be cut somewhere other than the easily bypassed Ashford-Dollands Moor segment, what would be Eurostar's BCR plans during the closure?

Loco haulage of TMST sets on some circuitous route around the blockage or all the way to St Pancras?
Loco haulage of TMST sets to some other terminal with simpler access?
Terminate services at the last available CTRL station before the blockage and provide passengers with information on making their own way there?

 

[D1009]

No different to the CTRL-classic links at Ashford and Dollands Moor then?

Serious question though: if the CTRL was to be cut somewhere other than the easily bypassed Ashford-Dollands Moor segment, what would be Eurostar's BCR plans during the closure?

Loco haulage of TMST sets on some circuitous route around the blockage or all the way to St Pancras?
Loco haulage of TMST sets to some other terminal with simpler access?
Terminate services at the last available CTRL station before the blockage and provide passengers with information on making their own way there?

Nope, they simply shut up shop and tell people to go home.

 

[Polarbear]

Nope, they simply shut up shop and tell people to go home.

Either that or arrange buses and/or alternative transport arrangements if something happened at short notice & people were already en-route.

Certainly, there's no way a Eurostar could be diverted off HS1 these days.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Certainly, there's no way a Eurostar could be diverted off HS1 these days.

Is it not even physically possible between Dolland's and Ashford any more? Isn't there still a cronnection to allow freight access to / from the classic line at Dolland's?


Not that there would be a lot of point in diverting for that short stretch except in a dire emergency!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The old routes through Kent led to the West London line (to reach North Pole depot).
The route from the WLL via the NLL to the ECML was also cleared, and used in GNER days to get the Regional sets into King's Cross.
Now there is a connection from the WCML/NLL into St Pancras (never used as far as I know).
This leads directly into the Eurostar platforms.

Anyway, I'm sure Eurostar has de-commissioned all the 3rd rail capability (software etc) to reduce the maintenance liability.
The new trains on order won't fit the classic network, and won't have 3rd rail capability anyway.

 

[Polarbear]

Yep - all the 3rd rail equipment has been removed from the 373's to save on maintenance costs. This was done fairly soon after HS1 fully opened.

The 374's will be too fat (and will lack the requisite shoes & electrical gubbins) for the classic lines in any case.

 

[pablo]

There a connection both ways at Barking, just before the tunnel portal.

Quote: Now there is a connection from the WCML/NLL into St Pancras (never used as far as I know).
This leads directly into the Eurostar platforms. Quote.

Yep, rusty as 'ell. As is also the connection to HS1.