London: The Eurostar Arrives at St. Pancras Station
We’re psyched that the new and improved St. Pancras train station opened this week in London. The depot, rebuilt and improved with a $1.7 billion budget, boasts more than just slick rails. Indeed, St. Pancras Station boasts the longest champagne bar in Europe, its own underground shopping mall and—most importantly—the fastest Eurostar journey to date from London to Paris. (Trains also leave the station for Brussels and Lille.)
We’re not, however, completely sold on the station’s PR: A daily farmer’s market in the downstairs arcade promises to be “Where the best of the British meets the flavours of the continent.” (Well, they’ve had their plates full.)
We recommend taking a virtual tour of the station.
On this side of the Atlantic, more “rail good” news as the U.S. House of Representatives last week approved $1.4 billion to keep Amtrak chugging along and improve track conditions. We’re glad to know our government, too, is finally taking note of the necessity for rail travel in an age of mass congestion and high fuel prices. Too bad Mr. President has promised to veto the bill.
Politics aside, we remain enthusiastic about the new station. And eager to try out that champagne bar. Toot, toot!
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The realism of international train travel has started, the investment in Ebbsfleet is a good example that it has done well. Railways are the best alternative to carbon rich Flights and travelling to the airport. Although train will never completely replace flight, there is a good chance it will replace very popular flight destinations in Europe and may be other parts of the world in the near future.