London’s St Pancras station, the UK’s sole international rail terminal, is set to more than double its passenger capacity for Eurostar services to Europe, according to Robert Sinclair, CEO of HS1, which owns the station and the high-speed rail track to the Channel Tunnel. The expansion, aimed at meeting growing demand for international rail travel, could see passenger numbers rise from the current capacity of 1,800 per hour to as much as 5,000.
A recent study commissioned by HS1 indicates that within the next few years, the station could handle 2,400 international passengers per hour with minimal renovation, achieved through the addition of more security lanes and staff. Longer-term plans envision redesigning parts of the station’s international zone to accommodate up to 5,000 passengers per hour, though this would require changes to security and immigration areas, as well as the expansion of the departure lounge.
However, Sinclair acknowledged that the success of these plans is dependent on the French government providing additional immigration officers—an issue outside of St Pancras’s control.
The expansion comes amid increasing demand for high-speed rail connections across Europe, with Eurostar looking to enhance its services. The challenges, however, have been significant, particularly following Brexit. Longer passport checks and the new post-Brexit passport stamping procedures have created bottlenecks at St Pancras, leading to delays and forcing Eurostar to scale back services. This has also resulted in higher ticket prices.
The station’s international area, which serves as the main entry point for rail passengers traveling between the UK and mainland Europe, currently operates under stringent passport control measures. Passengers must undergo UK departure checks, French passport control, and airport-style security before boarding. These procedures have led to a significant reduction in capacity, with peak passenger flow now about 30% lower than pre-Brexit levels.
Sinclair has expressed hopes of returning to a quicker, pre-Brexit check-in process, aiming to bring the required check-in time closer to the 30 minutes seen before Brexit, rather than the two-hour window that passengers currently face. However, any reduction in check-in times will depend on both UK and French immigration protocols.
With growing interest in cross-channel rail services, Eurostar and other operators are looking for ways to streamline the experience, though the post-Brexit situation presents ongoing hurdles for international rail travel.
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