Given the congestions on the network, I wonder if there might be scope to run some early/late services from some of these places to get people to Paris or Brussels for 8am, and leaving at, say 6 or 7pm to get people back. In both cases, you'd be travelling very early and arrive back very late - but you'd be able to do get there early for a meeting, and back home after an afternoon meeting. If you stayed overnight, you'd be able to get another full day(s).
The advantage would be a nice simple journey; once you're on the train, you know you're getting there and would have plenty of time to work, or sit back and relax. Given how early people may have to get up to fly, there's no real disadvantage compared to flying and I'd take the train over flying even if it took a bit longer.
If you had to go later in the day, or come back earlier, you'd be in a better position to change trains during the day (higher frequency). There's something about travel really early and late that makes you fearful of changes and delays - which isn't an issue if you know you're definitely getting home once you've got on the train (even if it ended up stuck somewhere on the way).
This would also mean customs and security would only need to operate for a short time at the other stations - like some foreign airports where the staff come down for as little as one flight departure before going back!
I bet there would be enough demand to fill a single train in each direction to each destination - perhaps in the future this might split on the French side having been made up of two shorter sets.
Some may see it as a token gesture, but you'd continue to have the through-ticketing options for other times.. and it wouldn't be much different to the 'token' trains to Disneyland Paris that are certainly never empty.
Outbound passport controls from the UK at St. Pancras are just the French authorities, the UK does not have outbound controls with the Border Agency. I believe temporary outbound controls can be enforced at any time, when they are deemed necessary.
The
only time I've had my passport checked by the UK authorities at St Pancras was the testing day before commercial services began! But, the desks are there for the inevitable 'bolt the stable door after the horse has bolted' reaction to a big incident, where you begin to realise that checking people leaving might be a good idea.
I have noticed a fair few exit checks at Heathrow now, which I actually like even though it means a slight delay. Actually, if I'm with the wife, any delay getting to 'duty free' is a real benefit.
