Eurostar train

The trains themselves were constructed by Alstom and can run on third-rail and various catenary voltages, achieving a maximum design speed of 300 kph when collecting current from the overhead catenary. They are essentially a modified TGV.

London to Paris takes 3 hours. London to Brussels 2 hours and 40 minutes.

As a whole the system is attractive compared to air travel.

The company that runs Eurostar is a joint venture between Belgian, French and British railway companies. British Pounds and Euros may be used to buy refreshments on the trains. The border between France and the UK is in the middle of the tunnel. On re-entering the UK, British IND (Immigration and Nationality Department) staff are usually seen on the train.

The Eurostar leaves London from Waterloo International station on the south bank of the River Thames. Some stop at the expanding town of Ashford in east Kent. A station in west Kent and another in east London are still under construction, these will see service when St.Pancras station has been adapted to receive Eurostar trains. From that time London will have three international train stations (Waterloo, St.Pancras and Stratford) and journey times from Belgium and France will fall significantly. The provision of overhead catenary will enable other electric locomotives to use the new tracks which may lead to longer distance services, for freight or passenger use, becoming available.

It was originally intended to run direct services to Paris and Brussels from places in the United Kingdom other than London. That never happened and some of the trains intended for those services are now operated by the GNER (Great North Eastern Railway) entirely within the UK, from London's King's Cross station to York or Leeds, both important cities in Yorkshire.

See also Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

External Links

• Eurostar Homepage (http://www.eurostar.com/)

Eurostar is also a name applied to some high speed trains in Italy. These have no connection with the trains running through the Channel Tunnel.