London rail revolution set to see international trains run from second station within four years

The station would be opened up at an estimated cost of some £20million under a ground-breaking blueprint for international services to operate by around 2030 in a huge boost for east London.

The departures board inside Stratford International Station

LS

“It’s time to unlock the full potential of this station and help write the next chapter in Stratford’s remarkable success story as we continue building a better, greener, more prosperous London for everyone.”

The aim is to have Paris, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam services halting in east London.

Operators are also considering other destinations in Germany and Switzerland.

Passport control signs in both French and English at Stratford International Station

LS

Travellers arriving at Stratford International would be able to jump onto the DLR for the three minute journey, or eight minute walk, to Stratford regional station to connect with the Jubilee line, Elizabeth line, Central line or London Overground to quickly reach central London or other parts of the city.

In the longer term, Stratford International could be used as a hub to link up rail services from the North and Midlands to the international network so millions more people could head to the Continent by train rather than take more environmentally-damaging flights.

A Stratford stop for international trains could deliver a boost to east London of between £2billion to £3billion over 60 years, according to some estimates, as the area becomes far more attractive for multi-national and other companies to locate headquarters, offices and other facilities.

Lord Sadiq Khan is driving forward plans for international trains to stop in east London

PA

A large number of sites are available for development.

Construction of four-platform Stratford International was completed in 2006.

Two international platforms and the station’s area for these services have remained effectively mothballed, including during the 2012 London Olympics.

International platforms at the station in east London

LS

The Standard understands, though, that this international section could be brought back into use within years.

Work would need to be done on the flow of passengers through the station, from arrival, to ticket scanning, going through security with bag checks, passport controls and into a waiting area.

Shops, refreshment outlets and other facilities would need to be put in but some are already in place including toilets.

People arriving at Stratford International enter it at ground level and take escalators or lifts down to the platforms.

Escalator down to the international platforms

LS

The international station has capacity for 250 to 300 passengers at a time, compared to 2,500 to 3,000 per hour at St Pancras.

The plan would be for the east London station to be a stop rather than a new London terminal station.

The halt would add around five to eight minutes to a journey to or from the Continent.

The international concourse at the station

LS

The Mayor is in talks with the Government over a Business Rate Retention Zone to fund the major rail development.

It would mean London keeping more business rates raised in the city rather than the money being siphoned off to fund other regions.

The Government is in discussion with the French authorities about customs and border arrangements.