please empty your brain below
I didn't see it, but if the manufacturer of the arriving train was Hitachi then it would have been the new Javelin jobby for the domestic services, not a Eurostar -- Eurostars were built back in the early 90s by Alstom.

As only one of the Hitachi trains has so far made it from its factory to the UK, it was probably accompanied by Eurostars...?

Henry | 07.11.07 - 12:40 a.m. | #

drool.....drool.....
I love this building, and every time I see it I remember why London is my favourite city in the world (as if I needed reminding.)
I can't wait to get back across the ocean to see the refurbishment first hand and to RIDE ONE OF THOSE TRAINS! (sad anorak that I am....)

Cait | Homepage | 07.11.07 - 3:32 a.m. | #

Er yes, there were two old Eurostar trains and one new Javelin jobby. Let me just amend that before the rest of the country wakes up...

diamond geezer | Homepage | 07.11.07 - 6:54 a.m. | #

I have aready told Eurostar that I will not be using there services anymore. I was a regular traveller from Waterloo to Paris since its start, having as at one time I owned a property in Paris.
I much prefer the Waterloo terminus, which was purpose, built, and not a conversion/refurbishment of an old station.
I find it strange that trains from the South coast are now going to arrive at a station which is in North London. It must be a slightly longer route than to have taken the HS1 into a southern terminus.
I do not like the enormous and cavernous high ceiling at St. Pancras. Which was built for steam trains with all their smoke, but totally unneeded for electric trains. Guess it will be cold and draughty there in the winter.
As the line disappears into a tunnel just after the station travellers will not have much of a view of the city as they arrive. At least at Waterloo they could see Big Ben one side and the Gerkin on the other.!
Exiting into the street at St.Pancras/ Kings Cross is nowhere near as nice for a tourist than to exit Waterloo on the South Bank.
So £130M to build Waterloo International for just 13 years use then close it, and £800M to reopen an ancient/derelict station to replace it!

John | 07.11.07 - 7:07 a.m. | #

Surely the Waterloo one was a conversion of part of the old Waterloo as I always used to use those platforms years ago. And wasnt there a big fire at St Pancras a few years back?

Debster | 07.11.07 - 7:57 a.m. | #

Platforms 20 and 21 were I think at Waterloo before Eurostar.With some sidings ajacent. The Eurostar terminal was a new build over the sidings. Regular platforms end at 19 now, (used by the Reading service).

John | 07.11.07 - 8:02 a.m. | #

There's always someone who has to moan, isn't there? This is a fantastic restoration of a great London building. It escaped by the skin of it's teeth in the 60's, it could have so easily ended up as another unimaginative mess like Euston. I can't wait to have a look round ....

Johnny Topaz | 07.11.07 - 9:24 a.m. | #

I'm off to St Pancras tomorrow for a sneaky peek of the station, and to kick the tyres, as it were.

They're doing what they're calling "Integrated Volume Testing", where they get a few hundred people along to catch a train. Despite my ticket being for the 1025 from St Pancras International to Paris Gare de Nord, it's probably going to turn around somewhere around Ebbsfleet, so that I'm back in time for the 1230, which will do the same.

In exchange for doing this three times, they're going to send me a voucher for a real trip to Paris, Lille or Brussels.

Londonist did it last week, and it sounds like an interesting way to spend half a day...

dg coughs: *cough*

martin | 07.11.07 - 9:36 a.m. | #

Oh my, wish I wuz there!
:^(
-gets excited watching lots of youtube of fast trains-

flashgordonnz | 07.11.07 - 9:52 a.m. | #

Is it just me or is there something about Ms. Jenkins that makes you either want to:
a. slap her for being a bit TOO cute
b. spank her for being a naughty girl.

Just me?

Right.. as you were then..

Gordon | Homepage | 07.11.07 - 10:55 a.m. | #

John Prescott was there, seen afterwards using King's Cross Tube. Wot no Jags?

mclm | 07.11.07 - 11:20 a.m. | #

John, St Pancras was a purpose built train station - and it is stunning. Euston is purpose built too... The journey is slightly longer in miles, but faster, and puts it nearer a wider catchment area. Shame about the view, but you'll no longer be trundeling along behind the 9.05 all stations to folkstone.

If you dont want to use it that's your call, but seems a shame to judge it without giving it a chance.

James | 07.11.07 - 11:34 a.m. | #

Is it just me (probably) ?

St. Pancras was a purpose-built railway station. In the past couple of years many, including the BBC, seem to have taken to calling them train stations. I suppose it is the American influence. Still, as has aleady been stated, there always has to be someone who has to have a moan.

Pedantic of Purley | 07.11.07 - 11:43 a.m. | #

First mention of "orgasm" this year,dg,I see. The Eurostar must be pretty special! (Big O count so far...2003(2) 2004(1) 2005(2) 2006 (1)). Just time for one moooooooooooooooore before January.

No mention at all of the brand spanking new Eurostar Maintenance Depot off
Orient Way, Lea Valley, in the Eurostar Blog. I gather then that HMQ didn't open it...see e.g.
http://paulbigland.fotopic.net/p.../
p46298209.html

felix | 07.11.07 - 4:16 p.m. | #

St Pancras, purpose built for steam trains, hence the high vaulted roof.
Not purpose build for electric trains which the Waterloo extension was.

John | 08.11.07 - 7:16 a.m. | #

Paragraph 2 "This time we were all invited was invited" doesn't look right?

dg writes: er, no, sorry - fixed now, ta

Rick | Homepage | 08.11.07 - 9:05 a.m. | #











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