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Eurostar to stop at Stratford International?

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Citybreak1

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Eurostar trains should start stopping at the existing Stratford International station to boost the economy of East London, a senior Labour MP claimed today despite fears the area could be overrun by rail passengers mixing with football fans and shoppers.

Just an idea Eurostar have ruled it out but with future operators and a remodel of St Pancras it’s all gone quiet. I imagine once new trains and operators come this could change.
 
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steamybrian

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There is also campaign to reinstate stops for Eurostar services at Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International.
 

riceuten

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There was an article in Time Out as well. I think it was solely wish fulfilment by the MP rather than any concrete evidence E* are even considering it.

Aren't we due another "Virgin/Deutsche Bahn/Renfe/FS are going to start running a competing service to Eurostar" article? We haven't had one in days!


"Despite fears the area could be overrun by rail passengers mixing with football fans and shoppers" - that could only be the Mail...
 

williamn

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These articles are based on nothing more than the stated wishes of one MP, it's really poor journalism. Wont happen. It'll be a miracle if Ashford or Ebbsfleet ever reopen let alone Stratford International.
 

riceuten

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These articles are based on nothing more than the stated wishes of one MP, it's really poor journalism. Wont happen. It'll be a miracle if Ashford or Ebbsfleet ever reopen let alone Stratford International.
Yup ageee totally, but that makes for a more interesting article. And it’s the Mail and Time Out, what did we expect?
 

stuu

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Stratford International isn't that easy to get to anyway for most people.
It's 6 minutes by direct train from St Pancras. If people can get to St Pancras, they can get to Stratford very easily
 

AM9

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It's 6 minutes by direct train from St Pancras. If people can get to St Pancras, they can get to Stratford very easily
Or even Farringdon, that's just 3 stops from Stratford by the Lizzie, - about 10 minutes.
 

signed

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That would be a good idea if the only customer base is extremely business oriented, as it takes half the time to go from Canary Wharf to Stratford than to STP
 
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JonasB

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I don't know if it will happen. But if there are problems with capacity at St Pancras it seems like an obvious solution is to open Stratford, Ashford or Ebbsfleet.
 

gingerheid

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Given everything E* have complained about re capacity restrictions at St P it seems like the obvious solution, and it may also stop some kinda of FlixMegaVirginOuiRegioRenaissanceLeoTrain or whoever proposed it most recently operating a low cost service using the same capacity.

I take it I (and the proposers) are missing something?
 

stuu

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I don't know if it will happen. But if there are problems with capacity at St Pancras it seems like an obvious solution is to open Stratford, Ashford or Ebbsfleet.
The track layout makes it very awkward to start trains there, they have to reverse on one or other main line to change direction
 

Crithylum

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I suspect a Stratford train will be prepared at St Pancras then sent ECS to Stratford for boarding.

1 tph should be doable, with 30 minutes to deboard, another 30-50 at St. P, and 30 mins to board, whilst only needing 1 platform at St. P
 

Taunton

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That would be a good idea if the only customer base is extremely business oriented, as it takes half the time to go from Canary Wharf to Stratford than to STP
Contrary to much belief, very few business travellers would go on a train to Paris or Brussels from their offices. They would go early in the morning directly from their houses, and return there directly in the late evening, after an all-day meeting. You don't waste good office time nowadays doing travelling if you can help it.
 

StephenHunter

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Contrary to much belief, very few business travellers would go on a train to Paris or Brussels from their offices. They would go early in the morning directly from their houses, and return there directly in the late evening, after an all-day meeting. You don't waste good office time nowadays doing travelling if you can help it.
You can work on trains these days with WiFi. Stratford also has a lot of housing nearby.
 

Mzzzs

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If both the international and mainline stations were one, I could see Eurostar stopping there. However, the major flaw, in my opinion, is that they are separate.
 

StephenHunter

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If both the international and mainline stations were one, I could see Eurostar stopping there. However, the major flaw, in my opinion, is that they are separate.
It's a rather long walk from St Pancras tube to the Eurostar though.
 

AM9

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It's a rather long walk from St Pancras tube to the Eurostar though.
Precisely, those complaining about the walk between Stratford Regional and International should check just how far they would be wheeling luggage through the undercroft at St Pancras or the equivalent at Heathrow or Gatwick. At Stratford, there's a DLR service between the two as well.
 
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Failed Unit

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If both the international and mainline stations were one, I could see Eurostar stopping there. However, the major flaw, in my opinion, is that they are separate.
I have done the walk. It is less the 10 minutes. But I can understand why people who don’t know the area wouldn’t rush to do it. To me walking from Euston is probably slightly longer but not many people do that either. Going through Westfield protects you from the elements. It is a pity they didn’t build a walkway when they built the station. Longer walks around many airports. (But they are undercover)

The very British thing about bad forward planning.

I have always said that station could be so useful. Especially now with the Elizabeth lines. The DLR is of course and option but not as good as a dedicated walkway. But no-one will pay for that now.

How is parking at Stratford International? Westfield has lots but not sure where you would park for long term (say 1 week)
 
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LLivery

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Stratford Anglia to International is easier than Gatwick Airport station to North terminal and is less walking than Heathrow Central to the terminals. If they branded the DLR accordingly, and included it in a HS1 fare, people would just think of it as a terminal transfer. Honestly, it feels like people are downplaying how convenient Stratford for millions of people is and how willing Londoners are to change trains. If we're willing to go to airports on the other side of the city and in the home counties, Stratford is child's play.
 

williamn

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Stratford Anglia to International is easier than Gatwick Airport station to North terminal and is less walking than Heathrow Central to the terminals. If they branded the DLR accordingly, and included it in a HS1 fare, people would just think of it as a terminal transfer. Honestly, it feels like people are downplaying how convenient Stratford for millions of people is and how willing Londoners are to change trains. If we're willing to go to airports on the other side of the city and in the home counties, Stratford is child's play.
The question is more whether it would generate extra custom for Eurostar that wouldn’t use St. Pancras, or at least enough extra to cover the extras costs of running another station. Given how close they are the answer is likely no.
 

AM9

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Still not an easy walk to the DLR from Crossrail with luggage. A hell of a lot more difficult than St Pancras.
At times walking through St Pancras can be quite difficult, especially with luggage. To change from eastbound Lizzie to the DLR for International: from P8 take the lift down, along the subway (about 40m) then turn left, less than 20m to P16 - at the front end of the DLR train, just right for alighting!
 

LLivery

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The question is more whether it would generate extra custom for Eurostar that wouldn’t use St. Pancras, or at least enough extra to cover the extras costs of running another station. Given how close they are the answer is likely no.

Well, it might make me sound loony, but there's a fundamental problem with the costs of cross channel services (and the fact we still only have one operator). We now have a less hostile government to Europe and something needs to change, to be agreed with France to bring these costs down for the operators for good of the local economies of Stratford, Ebbsfleet, Ashford, Calais and Lille, rather than being reliant on a commercial enterprise we have no stake in. Railways, even the international ones should be there for the public and economic good, with commercial enterprises being a bonus
 

Failed Unit

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The question is more whether it would generate extra custom for Eurostar that wouldn’t use St. Pancras, or at least enough extra to cover the extras costs of running another station. Given how close they are the answer is likely no.
I would agree when you think about it logically. St Pancras with Thameslink and multiple tube lines is well located. The walk from Euston isn’t the worse but getting to Stratford from Euston won’t be easier then St Pancras.

The Elizabeth line helps West London but I lot of the people I know in this area fly because of easy access to Heathrow.

Ebbsfleet covered the drivers. Ashford covered Kent. Neither of them generated huge amounts of traffic. It is sad for rail, that area of Kent prefers to drive to France now.
 
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