International train services to and from France could stop at Stratford International Station within four years under a plan championed by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. The proposal, which would open up the station at an estimated cost of around £20 million, aims to have international services operating by around 2030.
A boost for east London
Lord Khan told The Standard: "We’ve been working closely with the Government to make Stratford International truly ‘international’ for the first time – opening up new opportunities for jobs, investment and tourism, while connecting one of the UK’s fastest-growing economic centres directly to Europe."
He added: "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 development is backed by businesses and the train drivers' union Aslef. It would give around five million people in and around the capital easier access to international rail services compared with using St Pancras International.
Services and connections
The aim is for services to Paris, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam to halt in east London. Operators are also considering other destinations in Germany and Switzerland.
Travellers arriving at Stratford International would be able to take the DLR for a three-minute journey, or an eight-minute walk, to Stratford regional station to connect with the Jubilee line, Elizabeth line, Central line or London Overground.
In the longer term, Stratford International could become a hub linking rail services from the North and Midlands to the international network, allowing more people to travel to the Continent by train rather than by flights.
Economic impact and station history
A Stratford stop could deliver a boost to east London of between £2 billion and £3 billion over 60 years, according to some estimates, as the area becomes more attractive for multinational companies to locate headquarters and offices.
Construction of the four-platform Stratford International was completed in 2006, but it only opened in 2009 to serve Southeastern services to Kent. Two international platforms and the station's area for these services have remained effectively mothballed, including during the 2012 London Olympics.
The international section could be brought back into use within years, The Standard understands. Work would be needed on passenger flow, from arrival to ticket scanning, security with bag checks, passport controls and a waiting area. Shops, refreshment outlets and other facilities would need to be installed, though some are already in place, including toilets.
The international station has capacity for 250 to 300 passengers at a time, compared with 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.
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin is exploring stopping services at Stratford as it seeks to take on Eurostar from 2030 in the cross-Channel rail market. The Mayor is in talks with the Government over a Business Rate Retention Zone to fund the development, which would mean London keeping more business rates raised in the city. The Government is in discussion with the French authorities about customs and border arrangements.
