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By the mid 1980s the UK got round to deciding to put in place a high-speed train link to Paris and Brussels via the Channel Tunnel, and Eurostar was developed, a joint venture between BR, SNCF and SNCB. Initially it was planned that there would be a fleet of direct Eurostar trains running to Europe from Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham. In fact at one time there were printed timetables in several main stations in the UK with services to Paris indicated. Sadly it turned out to be just a dream as budget airlines began developing direct routes from regional airports to many places throughout Europe.
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But since the Eurostar service from London to Paris and Brussels opened in 1994 it has been, and continues to be, a great success and with the opening in November 2007 of the CTRL line (known as High Speed 1) through Kent (before which Eurostar ran on the third rail system at a maximum 80 mph) the timings to both capitals have been reduced. It's certainly much faster, more comfortable and less stressful than flying, city centre to city centre. The Eurostar trains in service are 18 carriages long (400 metres) weigh 800 tonnes and carry 750 passengers in two classes. They can operate on three different power systems including the third-rail used in Kent, as well as the voltages used in Belgium and France. Initially a special terminus was built for the Eurostar at Waterloo, which was renamed Waterloo International, but December 2007 saw the refurbished St Pancras become the international terminus. A new line out of east London and under the Thames near Dartford was constructed, allowing the train to reach its cruising speed of 186 mph on English soil.
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Just 31 trains were built in the distinctive yellow and white livery, though a number of Regional Eurostar trains, including sleeping cars, were also constructed. Most of the sleeping cars have been sold to VIA Rail in Canada where they are used on overnight services between Montreal and Halifax (Nova Scotia) and between Winnipeg and Churchill.
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A couple of the main sets (for day use only and with no sleeping cars) were also reliveried and used on the East Coast Main Line between King's Cross and Newcastle. A couple are in use by SNCF for normal TGV services. The current trains are 18 coaches in length, measuring just over 400 metres (a quarter of a mile) from end to end. The total train weighs 800 tonnes and can carry 750 passengers. Each locomotive (there are two per train) produces about 16,300 hp, more than all 18 cars in a Formula One race.
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