Eurostar is considering reducing boarding times by up to 30 minutes at London St Pancras International, as the station's operator seeks to move away from an 'airport-style' experience. Passengers could bypass departure halls and board trains directly under the proposed changes.
Wendy Spinks, chief commercial officer at London St Pancras Highspeed, which owns the HS1 line to the Channel Tunnel, told The Telegraph: 'It cannot be the equivalent of an airport departure lounge. We see it as a really quick process. Going straight to the train is part of the plan.' She added that the station has become 'too close to the airport experience, where you check in, go to security, wait in the lounge and then rush to the gate.'
Currently, travellers are advised to check in 45 to 75 minutes before departure. The changes aim to ease congestion as new operators, including Virgin Trains and Trenitalia, plan to launch Channel Tunnel routes by 2030. The station's operational capacity has already increased from 1,800 to 2,000 passengers per hour, with predictions of nearly 5,000 per hour by 2028. Passenger demand is expected to triple from 11 million to 35 million annually by 2040.
A £100 million renovation of St Pancras will expand the queuing area into the arrivals hall. However, a Eurostar spokesperson told The Independent that the proposals remain unconfirmed, stating: 'Eurostar continues to work closely with station teams and partners... to ensure a smooth, seamless experience. Eurostar will communicate directly with passengers should any confirmed changes be introduced.'
