Eurostar sets new record!

[Nemesis]

Hope people saw the bit on TV news yesterday evening showing Barlow's magnificent St Pancras trainshed in all its revamped glory...


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6977211.stm

Hopefully link to latest with views of that shed:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6970000/newsid_6978100/6978111.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&asb=1&news=1


Well - not quite - via that link click on the side:

On board the record-breaking Eurostar

 

[Nemesis]

Link to past posts:

http://periodpropertyshop.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7570&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=pancras&start=0

 

[MdB]

Might be useful to those in London. Those outside London it is of not a lot of interest, flying is still faster and cheaper.

It also cost two and half times as much to build per mile as does a three lane motorway and will carry a fraction of the traffic.

 

[Nemesis]

It's of great interest to me, having Barlow's trainshed restored. And I'm about 300 miles from London.

The flying stuff - some of us prefer the train.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6957882.stm


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6903302.stm

 

[Nemesis]

Listing description:

http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=477257

 

[Nemesis]

Nick Higham's report:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6978071.stm

 

[Aidan]

2 1/4 hrs.
So if I drive to Stansted, fly to Paris, get the Eurostar to St. Pancras, that'll probably be the quickest way to get into Central London tomorrow.

 

[Nemesis]

No, as the service begins in November.

Today was the record breaking trial.

 

[Aidan]

No, as the service begins in November.

Today was the record breaking trial.

Yes, of course; apologies. Presently 2 hrs 35 minutes to Waterloo.

So if I drive to Stansted etc., that's still the quickest way into Central London.

 

[Nemesis]

Depends - if I walk along to the village, get the train to Newcastle or Carlisle, then either GNER to Kings Cross or Virgin to Euston, I suspect it will be quicker and easier than your method.

 

[Flyfisher]

Publically funded and, as MdB pointed out, more expensive than a motorway and less useful. What a waste of money and resources.

Still, at least it can finally go fast on both sides of the tunnel and no longer has to share track with other rail traffic, so it's hardly surprising it set a new record.

 

[Nemesis]

Thought you'd be grumpy. Never fails!

Jut enjoy that trainshed, and be thankful that there is public transport still.

More use to me than a motorway!

I'm looking forward to quaffing chamapgne in the champagne bar, and staying at the hotel.

http://www.stpancras.com/index.asp

 

[NT]

I trust the weight of passengers will slow them down - as we all know if people go too fast they'll explode, and we dont want that.


NT checks clock... oh its _20_07

 

[Lime]

Eurostar is (IMO) the best way to go.
However the problem is getting to the station!
(I believe the London terminus is changing soon?)
I was chatting to the Eurostar representative about the service about how the service is being extended into other countries and upto Peterborough.
That will be excellent for me and open all Europe to a great many more people, assuming they can afford the fare.

 

[Nemesis]

Apparently the record breaking attempt was to be for under two hours, but work on the line at Calais meant the train had to slow down!

Yes, there are going to be special fares from oop north into London to connect.

Yes, if you read all I have posted above the terminus is changing from Waterloo to the wonderfully restored 19th c entury Barlow trainshed at St Pancras in November. The St Pancras Hotel is also being brought back into use after a zillion pound refurb.

 

[CHRIS]

My wife got the Eurostar yesterday to go to Paris and loved it, saves mixing with the Chavs at Stansted!!!!!!!

Only problem was the time it took from home to Waterloo was nearly twice the time from London to Paris due to the Tube strike. Nevermind it only cost £300 compaired to £60 on Megalow jet-but you did get WIFI, a plug socket and a lunch not just a British rail sandwich and a busted seat (I had to sit on one after a tedious Enviromental course last night).

I may use it to go on holiday next year if we can get a good price.

 

[Nemesis]

Yes, there are off peak fares etc, as with normal trains.

(British Rail? Well, I was on a train recently where the loco was still badged as BR but that was steam hauled... it's a long time since BR ran the trains!)

 

[CHRIS]

It was a long time ago these sandwiches were made!

Yes I know all about the story of BR (having had to jump through hoops to get a PTS certificate and track induction to work on the rail track).

We all remember the Morecambe and Wise jokes about the BR sandwiches dont we!

Off peak mean exactly that,IE not when every wants to travel but as it it is the Rugby world cup this month all the prices are higher. Same as the hotels who were 150 euros are £225 this week. Price we pay for buisness - never mind thats life.

A nice bonus ONE rail do now is if you travel after 9am you get reduced fairs but they now include the return from London between 1645 and 1815 so you cant return on the cheap day return on these trains as well.

 

[Nemesis]

From Building Design:

http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=453&storycode=3094640&c=1

 

[Penners]

the terminus is changing from Waterloo to the wonderfully restored 19th c entury Barlow trainshed at St Pancras in November.

I still think it's a shame that we shall no longer welcome the French to the UK at Waterloo!