The Eurostar terminal at St Pancras is often a zoo at busy times. It would be lovely to see a competitor like DB or Renfe make use of the facility at Stratford. It's just as well-connected to a lot of London as St Pancras (albeit with a walk through Westfield).

@kwlkid85

2 жыл бұрын

Or a quick ride on the DLR

@bernardshum2719

2 жыл бұрын

Stratford can connect Crossrail as well and it does not unnecessarily bring every passergers into Zone 1.

Now I'm even more disappointed in DB for not making the Frankfurt - London route work... That would have been awesome.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Right?! That would have definitely been awesome!

@delboy7039

2 жыл бұрын

Can you imagine a night train to Berlin/Frankfurt from StPan....!!

@paxundpeace9970

2 жыл бұрын

They would need special trains or lend them from the channel company

@kwlkid85

2 жыл бұрын

@@paxundpeace9970 They tested running ICE trains through the tunnel

if anyone is wanting to know how EXTREMELY successful the redevelopment of Stratford is, all you need to know is that Stratford in 2020 was the busiest train station in the whole of the UK.

@chairmakerPete

2 жыл бұрын

That's the other Stratford station, not the International one.

Cost me £50 to book a return flight from Newcastle to basel and also Belfast. Cost me £70 for a return train from Newcastle to London. Its just crazy how expensive trains are

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

It’s crazy isn’t it?! I’d love to make a video on it though I reckon it’d get messy and complicated pretty quickly 😂

to be honest considering how London's focal point is moving East. Canary Wharf continues to expand, Stratford is now the busiest station in the UK, i wouldn't be surprised if Eurostar start stopping at Stratford International in the near future (post Covid)...

Network rail is currently seeking an architect partner to redesgin Stratford (regular) station to better handle the large crowds it often deals with. It is expected to be a huge development equivalent to the redesign of London Bridge. One thing that i think would be good to add though is a very high frequency (ever 2 mins) shuttle service on the DLR between Stratford and Stratford international to effectively make it into one super large station. Some of these shuttles would then be extended to the rest of the DLR network.

@huzayfah

2 жыл бұрын

That is the best news I’ve heard all week. Stratford station is woefully overcrowded and overcomplicated. Could definitely do with a redesign. And 100% agree that services between stratford and stratford international need to be much more frequent than 10 minutes

It ain't cheap, but the high speed line makes it viable to live with my partner who works in central London while I'm studying in Canterbury, so for that it will have my continued gratitude.

Brilliant video that, loved the in-depth look. Great humour in there again. Really looking forward to south-eastern

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! It's been great to really hone in on one topic - normally I cover a few different things at a pretty glacial level. To get really into it and focus on one was great! I look forward to making more in the future 🥳

Something a bit different as you say and you absolutely nailed it!! Great stuff, hope to see more of these.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Cheers George!! In that case I’ll be definitely looking at more topics to deep-dive into in the future🔮

A brilliant video about Stratford international. Hopefully some day it will have some international services stopping there as well as domestic services.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Only time will tell!! Thank you for watching 🏃🏻‍♂️🚂🎉

First time on your channel - loved it - straight talk and some good miles on the run - great idea! Subbed and looking forward to more great content!

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much! It’s greatly appreciated

brilliant video i found the info about Stratford intl very interesting and hopefully one day international trains will use the station and St Pancras station is awesome keep up the good work

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Fingers crossed 🤞🤞

Love the different take on this video, very well edited and presented

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Ah thank you Simon!! Very much appreciated 🙌

Excellent video, great to hear the background as well as what might be...🤞 Worth the wait.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Much appreciated Martin - thank you! Stratford International has always fascinated me so taking a deep-dive into how it came to be was really something else! 🤯

A very useful station when travelling between East London and Kent, so not a white elephant at all. Once I showed my family this station and the buses got rerouted past it, we never went to places like Sittingbourne and Margate via London Victoria again

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

It is a very handy station - I've loved how quick you can get to the Kent coast in comparison to going from Charing Cross/Victoria. Just a shame there aren't any international services like at Ebbsfleet and Ashford!

@grahamsmith9541

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelson There aren't any international services from Ebbsfleet or Ashford either. One potential for more international services. Getlink (the tunnel operator) are thinking about purchasing trains. To set up a train leasing company. Because of the high cost of entry into the market. But if it happens it will be in 10 years time.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

@@grahamsmith9541 Ebbsfleet and Ashford had Eurostar services call there prior to COVID - they're due to return next year! Though if the leasing company does go ahead then hopefully it'll drive some much-needed competition to Eurostar.

Love this, Matt; a lot of work and effort has gone into this. Good to see you back and all.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Greatly appreciate that Karl - thank you! I couldn't come back after a 3 week hiatus with something sh*te 😂

Great to have you back Matt!!

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

It’s a pleasure being back - thank you for waiting!

Oh the irony! Takes me back to 1990 when (representing the Midlands as Channel Tunnel Consultant) I became embroiled in a massive row with "Two Jags" (Prescott) and the boss of Ove Arup (now Arup) who were praising the proposed route of the tunnel from St Pancras via Stratford. I said that the only reason Stratford was on the table was because Ove Arup (one of the major builders in the project) was based there! "Nonsense", came the calls from all around the Manchester venue - "you are talking rubbish". Since then, Arup has made a mint out of us and out of Stratford with its involvement in the "International" Station, the Shopping Centre, the Olympic Park, Crossrail and HS2 amongst other projects. The Channel Tunnel Station should have been built under Kings Cross and the tunnel should have been built due south east thus saving many miles of track and with direct connections from the North via the East Coast Main Line. Stratford International was always going to be a "white elephant".

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

That’s such a fascinating point! I didn’t consider potential conflicts of interest with developers…🕵️ I didn’t include it in the video ‘cause I couldn’t properly verify the source though was it true the tunnel was actually due to emerge around Peckham Rye and use local lines to terminate at London Waterloo? 🧐

@MrTudwud

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelson Thanks. I'm not sure that any of the alternatives to Stratford got a look in! The meeting in Manchester was supposedly to discuss all possibilities. What transpired was the promotion of Ove Arup and the decision to use St Pancras. The first thing I said was "Why St Pancras? You are heading North, then due East for a journey that should be to the South East". No answer was forthcoming until the "Stratford" word was mentioned, then all hell rained down on me from hundreds of delegates! Such is life!

@cholloway0046

2 жыл бұрын

I would be interested to hear your thoughts on HS2. It seems like we really need a through station instead of expanding the Euston Terminus. London Waterloo London Bridge is another example that I can think of, though I don't ever see it happening.

@MrTudwud

2 жыл бұрын

@@cholloway0046 HS2! Yes, I certainly agree with you about Euston. However, as with HS1, there was a strong reluctance to discuss any alternatives. The obvious one was to ensure that by hook or by crook HS2 and HS1 were directly connected. However, in practice, every possible situation was thrown out - "not fast enough"/"too awkward"/"too many reverse curves" etc. In fact any excuse not to link the two was used to promote Euston. As you say, an underground HS2 connection to somewhere under the River could have worked with a connection to Ebbsfleet further out but, no doubt, the Powers that be would find a quick way of poo-pooing that. Incidentally, do you think that Ebbsfleet International is another white elephant?!

@cholloway0046

2 жыл бұрын

@@MrTudwud I don't know too much about Ebbsfleet honestly. It does seem like an odd location, but then again Old Oak Common is another station that is being constructed further out. Having said that, the only orbital high-speed project that I know about is/was HS4 Air (Not entirely sure what to think of that one.) If you could theoretically connect the main London termini as through-stations, I'm not sure what benefit a circumferential route would serve.

thank you for adding captions to your videos matt!!

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Not a problem! I enjoy making them + auto-generated captions are garbage 🗑

What a pleasant presentation. Matt has a great personable presentation style and should be utilised on mainstream TV. I found this article very interesting and informative and at some point in the future the London-German link will go ahead.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

You are incredibly kind, thank you for your lovely words and thank you for watching! Very much appreciated xx (I also hope the London-German link will go ahead - fingers crossed! 🤞)

Great video Matt. The latest London ‘Tube’ map has removed “International” from Stratford station’s name, and added it only to the DLR terminus. I wonder if one of the possible new entrants from the Continent could be persuaded to terminate their London service at Stratford? As easy to connect to other lines there, as it is at St. Pancras. But. A Champagne Bar at Stratford International doesn’t ring true, at least in my ears !

brilliant... more of these please!!!

An excellent video. I have just found you on YT and I have subscribed.

That was excellent, well done!

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!! 🙏 Definitely took a while to piece together

The UK and other European countries should consider following France's example and ban air routes that are better served by rail. Low cost airlines are on the surface great for consumers but they do so at great social and environmental expense that these airlines don't have to pay for and have been a major inhibitor to many valuable rail projects since their rise.

Excellent video and very well made.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Much appreciated 👍

Very informative. I enjoyed the mixture between zoology and historical rail information.

Great video, thanks for this. Look forward to more content possibly on Crossrail's cancellation of trains to Hertfordshire, and other projects 😃👍🏼

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for taking the time to watch! It's very much appreciated. That's such a great topic!! I've seen a few articles here and there talking about it so will definitely add it to the list! 😁

@lionsheart8

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelson thank you 😊 🙏🏼

Anybody spot my cameo? 😉 Proud of you Matt ❤️

It’s called Stratford International to differentiate from existing Stratford which is one of the UKs busiest stations. It also runs on the same Eurostar line and you can interchange at Ebbsfleet to connect with Eurostar services to mainland Europe. With the amount of new development around Stratford, it’ll only be a matter of time before Stratford Intl operates international services.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Only time will tell! Fingers crossed international services will happen 🤞

A Very Interesting Vlog !!

Great video. I used javelin trains to/from Kent that stopped @ Stratford I. Much quicker than taking the tube to East London - bar service frequency. Agreed it’s a when for an International train service to Stratford

Great video

I watch the "Up" series by Michael Apted. In the 2012 version "56Up" one of the participants is sitting in the London Olympic Stadium where, nearby sits the Olympic media complex "Here East". In the 1970 "7 Plus 7" episode he had worked as a 14 year old numbers runner at a greyhound racing track "Hackney Wick Stadium" that stood at the location. It was a very different place indeed. Always love your mix of history into the vids. Neat to see something I've gotten a glimpse of in a series, shown a little more in your video.

Thanks, interesting stuff. More please.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! Will be eyeing more deep-dives in the future 🏃🏻‍♂️🚂

Interesting argument about the Olympics except that the Order by which it was authorised dates from 2001 and seems to somewhat proceed the awarding of London 2012:) Reality is that this was little to do with the Olympics (if that pushed anything along it was the DLR station) and everything to do with the regional Eurostar services. These were largely axed because of the rise of low-cost air travel for which the train service just can't compete and was literally not anticipated. It was more than just some posters, as you say trains were added and it was seemingly ready to roll before being axed. A through station (Stratford) was required if these trains were to stop in London. Anybody idea that the main service would both stop there and at St Pancras should be seen as either ignorance or political posturing - not sure which although I can guess:) Going forward? Well the high-speed link between HS2 and HS1 has been axed - it might have supported an international service from (say) Birmingham but anything probably not worth it again due to airline competition. The original plan was (at least for trains coming from the West Coast Mainline) was to use the North London Line. That line was even upgraded with overhead electricity in the late 90's, at least partly in anticipation. At the time the line was underused and the passenger service under loved. Now? "Overground" has happened and there is a (stopping) train every 5/10 minutes - there little or no spare capacity. Without the HS1/HS2 link, the Regional Eurostar is not now realistic even to run. Back to the original question: is this a White Elephant? Well the Eurostar-compatible platforms, perhaps, but the pre-covid passenger numbers were nearly 3 million per year, so does not seem that underused to me.

This place is Beograd Centar Prekop mark 2.

I used to work in Stratford Mall that was directly linked to Stratford station attached to the Bus station. It was dark, smelly and way out of date. Believe me what we have now is way better than then.

Great video mate, you've got a new subscriber! I do have one suggestion for audio improvements. Your voice sounds a bit sibilant, so my recommendation is to utilize a de-esser audio plug-in just to tame some of those esses. These types of audio plug-ins usually come with most editing software so it shouldn't cost you anything extra, but they can greatly improve your audio (or make it worse if used incorrectly). For learning how to use them, KZread is your friend. 😉

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!! Will definitely take this on-board - thanks again for your feedback and thank you for watching!

Wow, running while narrating? You're GOOD! 😁

1. It's called international as it's a connecting station to international services at St Pancras International and Ebbsfleet International - 10 and 7 minutes away respectively. - so the announcement on The Overground it true - you need to alight at Stratford for International services. 2. During peak times in the morning and evening, it gets extremely busy, as it does every other Saturday and some weeknights between August and May, as well as during the summer when there are rock concerts and events at The London Stadium, with trains every 15 minutes. I use the high-speed through to St Pancras International extremely often, and take it from someone that uses it, a white elephant it is not, and don't take the word of an MP. It's a vital piece of London's transport infrastructure that will only increase it's patronage once the numerous housing developments being built around The Olympic Park have come to fruition. Paddington was considered a white elephant when Brunel built it with far more extra capacity and redundancy than it needed at the time,.

I'm a local and find the international station very handy for travel within the uk...a train to Ashford then rye takes 50 mins or Rochester 30 mins

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Same here!! It’s super handy. If only they had the international trains to make it truly international 🛤🌍

As a local resident, I don't use it much, but I can see more and more people use it for high speed train connections. Not useless at all, even though original purpose of the station didn't happen.

Hey man! I’m the guy with the bike who interrupted your recording by south Bermondsy station, cool channel and it was nice to meet you :) Ps. Include the clip of me if you feel like it ✌🏽

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Lew! It was great chatting with you too - the wheelie looks sick! Will stick it into the next video 🤙

@lewt2356

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelson Thanks matt 🤟🏼keeping an eye out for it!

I'm really liking this different style. Very engaging video to watch. Every time I find myself passing by Stratford, I think to myself if there even is an International service that stops at Stratford International. Hopefully it will be a matter of time before we see Eurostar and potentially even other International services operate at this station. The effort of your hard work is proven in the production of this video so thanks Matt 👍. I'd love to see more of this. 😁

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Aye it's something different - gotta spice it up once in a while eh? Thank you so much as always! And duly noted - what sort of deep-dives would you be interested in seeing in the future?

I went to the university of East London in the early 90s. Our Halls of residence was right in the way of the Southeast HS1 and was eventually bought by The Government. As you can imagine we lost our housing 😭

i remember the eurostar used to go from waterloo. thelasttimei took it from there I met a women going to Brussels. she was visiting her husband who worked there. On the way back we met again and I ended up going back to her place in Kingston upon Thames. apparently,she was pregnant at the time but it wasn't mine as she was already up the duff before we did it.

Excellent video, they usually are but this was particularly well done and informative and thought provoking. I always considered that there was no real point in Eurostar calling at Stratford but, actually I’ve now changed my mind. It would save people from North and East London and East Anglia having to use standard transport links to get to St Pancras. And once the pandemic is truly behind us and hopefully the current war in Ukraine is over, it would be nice to think that some European rail companies might start looking at the opportunities to run services into Uk.

@franco8flyline

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly. I think he also alluded to your question in the vid, right now if we need to take the Eurostar we d have to do the southeastern hs1 fast train to St Pancras (takes 7 min), and then ironically take the eurostar to go past Startford Intl on the way to Paris

I live not far from here and the HS1 tunnel pretty much runs underneath my flat just before the trains exit the tunnel at Stratford. Within the gates to my apartment complex there is actually a tunnel shaft and emergency exit to the tunnel. So HS1 and emergency staff have preferential access to the gates to complex. Oh and in terms of the station, I find it ridiculously convenient for getting to and from Kings Cross St Pancras. It's a bit more expensive than the Tube, but that five minutes journey time is worth it!

I wanted to know why don’t they dig a tunnel and do an extension for the main line Train so they extend the unused abandoned underground stations. Why couldn’t they use the part D78 Stock train doors on the sides and also restructure the front face of the A60 and A62 stock and remix and make them all together and also redesign them overhead line and also make them into 5 cars per unit and also having 2 Disabled Toilets on those 5 cars per unit A60 and A62 stock trains and also convert the A60 and A62 stock trains into a Scania N112, Volvo TD102KF, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel Engines and also put the Loud 7-Speed Voith Gearboxes in the A60 and A62 stock and also modernise the A60 and A62 stock and make it into a 11 car per unit so it could have less doors, more tables, computers and mobile phone chargers. A Stock Trains and also having 8 Disabled Toilets on those A stock trains. why couldn’t we refurbish and modernise the waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel and make it more bigger and extend it to bank station, making it into a Triple-Track Railway Line so those 4 European countries such as Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden to convert the waterloo and city line Triple-Track Train tunnel into an High Speed train. The Third Euro tunnel Triple-Track Train line to make it 8 times better for passengers so they could go from A to B. then put the modernised 11 car per unit A Stock and put them on a bigger modernised waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel so it could go to bank station to those 4 European countries such as Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. The modernised refurbish 11 cars per unit A stock could be a High Speed The Third Triple-Track Euro Tunnel Train So it is promising and 37 times a lot more possible to do this kind of project that is OK for London Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. oh by the way, could they also tunnel the Triple-Track Railway Line so it will stop from Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex so that the Passengers will go to Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden and also extend the Triple-Track Railway Line from Bank to Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex Stations so that more people from there could go to Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden Easily. Why couldn't they extend the Piccadilly line and also build a brand-new underground train stations so it could go even further right up to Clapton, Wood Street and also make another brand new tunnel train stations in Chingford and could they extend the DLR. All of the classes 150, 155, 154, 117, 114, 105, 106, will be replaced by all of the Scania N112, Volvo TD102KF, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel five carriages to disabled toilets are air conditioning trains including Highams Park for extend doing roots which is the Piccadilly line and the DLR trains. Could you also convert all of the 1973 stock trains into an air-conditioned maximum speed 78 km/hours (48 MPH) re-refurbished and make it into a 8 cars per unit if that will be alright, and also extend all of the Piccadilly train stations to make more space for all of the extended 8 car per unit 1973 stock air condition trains and can you also build another Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive Companies and they can order Every 17 Octagon and Hexagon shape LNER diagram and unique small no.11 Boilers from those Countries such as Greece, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, can they make Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive speeds by up to 117MPH so you can try and test it on the Original Mainline so it will be much more safer for the Passengers to enjoy the 117MPH speed Limit only for HS2 and Channel Tunnel mainline services, if they needed 16 Carriages Per units can they use those class 55’s, class 44’s and class 43HST Diesel Locomotive’s right at the Back of those 16 Carriages Per Units so they can take over at the Back to let those Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s have a rest for those interesting Journeys Please!!, oh can you make all of those Coal Boxes’s 16 Tonnes for all of the 117MPH Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s so the Companies will Understand us PASSENGER’S!! so Please make sure that the Builders can do as they are Told!! And Please do something about these very important Professional ideas Please Prime Minister of England, Prime Minister of Sweden, Prime Minister of Germany, Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister of Poland and that Includes the Mayor of London.😉😅😅😀😀😅😀😀😅😅😀😀😀😀😀😉😉

What. A. Video. Whatavideo indeed.

Manchester International Depot was opposite the Alstom Transport Longsight Depot and not the Siemens one you showed which is @ Ardwick, Manchester,

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

I was wondering if anyone would notice that - good spotting!

Tokyo must be loving their investment in the 2020 games

Not sure I get the logic of international services to Stratford despite the regeneration agenda. There aren't suburban Parisian stations labelled as "International": Eurostar is a city-to-city service. (And do more than a dozen people get on and off at Ebbsfleet either?). Hmmm...

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

That is a valid point re a city-to-city service and no suburban Parisian "international" branded stations. I imagine the creation of Stratford International station was based entirely off of the hype of the Olympics with a lack of what else can bring people to Stratford. It may have been beneficial during the Olympics to have Eurostar services stop there, though now it's a matter of how it can benefit the people living in the vicinity of Stratford to other mainland European destinations.

@malcolmpettett5957

2 жыл бұрын

We get off at ebbsfleet easier to access from the south,it's getting busier

Very Interesting, Matt - you've clearly been working very hard to amass all that information, not to mention shaving your legs, LOL!

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

I actually spent the last 3 weeks away shaving my legs for the occasion - it's true!

Matt, there is another International train service from the UK. Belfast, UK to Dublin, Ireland/Europe.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

That is correct! I should have specified “the only service between the UK and mainland Europe” 😅

Well to be fair... the ICE 3M Velaros (DB-Baureihe 407 (that are quite similiar to the Velaro e320) were not allowed on SNCFs LGV approach on the French side of the channel tunnel raillink. And by the rail infrastructure at the supposed planned route (Frankfurt on the Main, Cologne), it would be like the eurostar services from Marseille that go through UK imigration at Lille Europe (eurostar) in France rather than you when you go and pass UK boarder controls at Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi station.

he's alive!!

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

HE HATH RISEN

old oak on hs2 will be the same ....i used to love Strafford loco depot mmmmmm the tunnel of love

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

It may not get custom immediately however I imagine it’ll be a busy station for West Londoners in the following years to come - especially with the proposed West London Orbital Railway!

Why aren't the stations at Stratford, Ebbsfleet, and Ashford, all simply renamed 'HS1' or 'High Speed' after their first names? None of them provide continental travel now.

Are you gonna upload an Elizabeth Line video or something?

People need to get over calling it a white elephant literally because of the word 'International' in its name. It's a very well-used domestic station, opening up East London to Kent commuters and vice versa. Good luck boarding a train here on summer weekends, it's full of East Londoners flocking to the seaside and is often standing room only. The fact it's got two mothballed platforms is an asset, not an elephant. As the east of the city becomes more important, international rail travel becomes more popular and cheap international rail operators eventually offer some competition on the route, there's every chance Stratford International could come into service, and with relative ease given that the most important infrastructure exists - not possible if the box was built with absolutely no provision for international platforms. I don't see it as any different to Heathrow Terminal 5's mothballed platforms. It's better to have it there as a maybe than to not have it at all.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

100% all of this! It’s crazy it was labelled as a “White Elephant” from the jump. There are times where I’ve boarded the train from Stratford International to Ramsgate and it’s been, for lack of a better word, rammed!

That pamphlet for Eurostar Regional predates HS1 so doesn't even include Stratford Int. as a calling point going clockwise around London instead. Also, you can experience the sleeper cars that were built for NightStar in Canada today. Also also, the DLR station isn't even properly connected to the high-speed station, which is ridiculous and another example of how poorly thought through some of this was.

Thought provoking, Jago Hazzard came to a more dismal conclusion to yourself re the international aspect of Stratford, hope your right Good to see you back

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

It has been interesting seeing different perspectives of what may happen in the future! I’d love to see Stratford International properly utilised as an international station 🤞 It’s a pleasure being back, thank you for your patience 🙏

@daveherbert6215

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelsonThe time and effort that you put into this video clearly shows. I like the change of topic, rather than being descriptive you were analytic. Well done

Stratford International station may have the name tag as a white elephant, but this has nothing whatsoever to do with Stratford. Let's not forget that the Millennium Dome was a white elephant in its inception. Now it's one of the busiest venues in the world, in terms of ticket sales per annum! If the MSG Stratford Sphere gets the green light, then Eurostar will buckle under pressure to reconsider. Remember, that during the pandemic Stratford was the busiest railway station in the UK during the 2020/21 period. London Victoria, London Bridge and London Waterloo were 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively. In addition to all of the above facts, Stratford tube station was also the busiest underground station during the 2020/21 period. London Bridge, Victoria, King's Cross St Pancras, Waterloo and Liverpool Street station were 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respectively. So we've established that Eurostar is the reason why Stratford International station isn't used, however Ebbsfleet in Kent to Ashford in Kent takes 20 minutes. Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International are used. Ebbsfleet to Stratford takes 12 minutes whist Ashford in Kent to King's Cross St Pancras in Central London can take less than 30 minutes. When the Elizabeth Line opens on Tuesday 24th May 2022, Eurostar will have no options but to consider stopping International trains at Stratford International Station, even if it means setting up an online petitions to apply pressure from platforms such as www.change.org.

I find it why Stratford International station is called “International” but Eurostar trains just whizz right pass it and Southeastern Highspeed Class 395 Javelin stop and serve Stratford International station. And Stratford (Regional) station could of been renamed as Stratford Interchange because of National Rail, London Underground, London Overground, DLR and TfL (hopefully soon to become Elizabeth Line).

Definitely no white elephant. It has move central London eastwards to Stratford and the commuter services/regional services are packed to standing. It has become a central London station with a high speed link to St Pancras and King's Cross basin, and eastwards to the increasingly London suburbia of Canterbury and Margate, Ashford etc.

@mrglide7078

2 жыл бұрын

'increasingly London suburbia of Canterbury and Margate, Ashford etc.' I think Canterbury Margate and Ashford would beg to differ 🙄

@richardwills-woodward5340

2 жыл бұрын

@@mrglide7078 They might, but urban economics, commuting and land use analysis would not. It may have been so 30 years ago, but the urban explosion over Southeast England in the last 20 years in particular has been jaw dropping. North Kent and South Essex is akin to Long Island New York. It is densifying every year and expanding. When speaking to people in Canterbury they do not argue that London is creeping up on them. All those I have spoken to in shops and notably those whom are older, state they moved to get out of London but now the urbanisation has become obvious and they hate it. Bing satellite imagery is the clearest mapping for zooming in. Turn the labels off, go into where it looks all green, and you suddenly see a lot of suburbanisation. Those fields between them just have traffic jams through them and busy roads linking the splatter together alongside more new-build ribbon developments and commercial developments. Is it sad? Probably. Most of Southeast England now falls under suburbanised landmass of London now. JLL and Grosvenor property also state this. So much so, they have moved another ring outwards and are now citing future urban connection with the rest of London at Northampton. it is tongue in cheek nicknamed 'North Londonshire'!! JLL state that urban connection toward Bedford and Milton Keynes is just a matter of years away under present planning policy and applications.

I can't see Eurostar bringing international services to Stratford - they don't even stop at Ebbsfleet or Ashford any more since the pandemic hit the travel industry, and they have announced they have no intention to resume for the foreseeable future.

Like Nightstar, NOL sets, SNCF & Deutsche Bahn before it, if we'd become more integrated with the rest of Europe then it would have been easier to justify services. But then we'd have had to let more foreigners in and that's a bad thing because...

how would security work in general and whether you need a passport or not on national services or if you went from stratford to st pancras?

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Ally! I imagine Stratford International would have operated similar to St Pancras, Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations where there’s security and Border Control to access the international platforms. As it stands now it’s not possible to book a Eurostar service for national services, such as St Pancras to Ebbsfleet International - you’d use southeastern High Speed services instead. Hope that’s helped! 🚅

@ally-1190

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelson yeah i just didn’t know if theyd use that space as the ticket hall isnt huge

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

@@ally-1190 Yeah it’s not the largest space in the world - there’d need to make more than a few modifications inside the station to accommodate it all!

I could see Stratford being used as a hub for trains from the north to Europe if HS2 reached the north and at 320+kph? Birmingham seems to be the limit. Dare I mention France’s TGV lines built from the 1970s! Let’s not forget that Eurostar is actually SNCF. Would be great to be able to take a train from St Pancras to Berlin, Munich or Rome non stop, in my opinion the trains would require proper dining cars and not at ridiculous prices. Never tried the Amsterdam service. Very interesting video of might have beens?

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

It would depend on the HS1-HS2 chord being instated which doesn’t seem likely unfortunately! There was a comment somewhere here that made a valid point that it wouldn’t be a strong business-case to have trains bypass two major London terminuses. It’d make more financial sense to have HS1 and HS2 terminate at their London stations regardless of seamless connectivity!

@jeanjacques9980

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelson Yes and no, HS2 London terminus and Eurostar terminal are lot the same, how stupid is that? If space is a problem at St Pancras, why not have a lower level rather like Penn Station and one of the Paris terminals. I was thinking of direct Manchester Paris or Amsterdam by passing central London as the TGV by passes Paris, perhaps no enough direct traffic without a London stop?

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I would imagine it'd be the demand and financial aspect of it. The regional stations would need to have full-time Border Control and Security which isn't the cheapest of things to implement! Though that's a great point - maybe there's not enough demand without a London stop? 🤷‍♂️ Especially if it's compared to low cost budget airlines that fly direct between Manchester and Paris for example!

@jeanjacques9980

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelson Low cost airlines will prevail, though I would prefer 3 hours by train to Paris from Manchester than Crap(Eire)air. As you mentioned there are significant logistical problems with immigration and customs & excise at stopping points in any euro regional service. British solution 320 kph from Birmingham to Euston, mad 1 km dash with trailing suitcases in the rain down the Euston Rd to St Pancras.

@peterwilliamallen1063

6 ай бұрын

@@jeanjacques9980 Not enough passengers full stop for services from HS2 to go to Europe, it is easier and cheaper to fly from Birmingham and Manchester to Europe than go by train

I live in that rusty orange building opposite the station. Stratford is transformed since I first moved to London 20 years ago. If someone told me in 2002 I'd move back to Stratford and be loving it for its shops, transport links, sports facilities, parks and restaurants, I would have told them they were mad.

Why doesn't trains that depart St Pancras going under the Channel Tunnel only go to Paris or Brussels? Why don't they go further afield to Germany, Spain or Italy? Its a bit embarrassing that a major city like London has trains that only go direct to Paris and Brussels.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

I’d say it’s down to route feasibility and the rail operator itself. If the planned Deutsche Bahn service to Frankfurt went ahead then that’d be a new destination in the bag for St Pancras!

❤

I don’t really see why everyone gets hung up on Stratford International not having international services, nobody expects intercity operators like LNER to call at Finnsbury park or Avanti to call at Wembley Central so why would Eurostar call at another station so close to its terminus?

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

That's a good point! I believe many people felt disappointed; the promises of international rail services at Stratford International station weren't validated - regardless of the distance to its terminus. However, I imagine from Eurostar's perspective that there's the lack of financial incentive to stop at Stratford International - saving a 7 minute journey isn't a strong-enough reason! (Who'd have thought?!)

What about the Stratford box ?

Any project needing a name in London in the last decade was because Olympics or because the Queen (see the Elizabeth Line 😒)

imagine building an "International" station where the trains run express - lmfao nice job

Is Stratford even allowed to call itself an International Railway station?

1:15…..is he off parachuting?

Stratford Westfield International station.

The link between HS1 and HS2 must be built no enable both lines to work as envisaged. HS 1 must be continued to Scotland. The future will be overnight services across Europe taking a lot of planes out of the air and at last people in the North of Britain will be able to enjoy the ease of travel on HS lines to Europe.

@Alto53

2 жыл бұрын

Regional Eurostar services don't have the market appeal to justify them.

@peterwilliamallen1063

6 ай бұрын

First HS1 would never be continued to Scotland as Scotland will be connected to the HS2 line at Crewe and the link between the two lines will never be built as HS2 is purely a domestic High Speed Line and sorry it is cheaper and qucker to fly o Europe from Birmingham and Manchester than catch the train

@johng5474

6 ай бұрын

@@peterwilliamallen1063 Ooops , yes of course my mis-type. My point is the HS network should have started linking up the rest of the UK before London.

@peterwilliamallen1063

6 ай бұрын

@@johng5474 Oops one has to ask why it should of been built all over the UK before building down to London, in the UK all railway's have always been built to London and HS2 is to speed up domestic train services from Crewe and Birmingham to London to give more capacity for other passenger services and freght services on the existing WCML

An Olympic nightmare!

*Nope.* The Shard is still awful. _Missed opportunity:_ HS1 and HS2 should've been linked up to provide a through route from Manchester and Birmingham to Ashford International and Dover, with a London stop at Stratford. It has to be noted London 2012 is the ONLY Olympics to make its money back!

@PIXELGamerzXvlogs

2 ай бұрын

London spent $18 billion to generate just $5.2 billion in revenue though? So it didn't make it's money back?

does hs1 go under barking?

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

It certainly does! 🚄💨

As the UK was never part of Shengan protacals on the free movment of people Stratford Inter. would have been a new International boarder into the UK and the goverment/home office were never going to fund it for the few travlers expected the cost of running the customs securaty imigration etc would have been millions of punds a year then times this by international stations in manchester, cardiff birmingam glasgow for 2 or 3 trains a day it would cost 100's of millions So goverment has no intrest in a growing or sussesfully international railway it has cut out links to HST2 and seeks to off load costs the UK goverment did not support Eurostar during covid as it was a french company and their for the responcablity of the french tax payer . the sucsses of Stratford international is it puts the population of Kent in easey reach of the shopping center and it is this devlopent that is the real power in devloping the area. so its not a compleate white Elephant but maybe renamming to " Stratford SE rail " or westfields olympic Pk" would be more aproprate

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Very true, the ideas looked good on paper until it came to the execution and following-through of falsified promises!

Could they not call it Stratford City Station at all?

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

They could! I reckon they’re holding onto the International name so it doesn’t look like they gave up on the international plans for Stratford 🤷‍♂️

2:26 because a lim

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

😂😂

This is the randomest concept.....

Excellent video but don't get it with the "running" narrative.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Alan! Much appreciated and thanks for taking the time to comment. A few others have been a bit confused with my "running" narrative too, lol. So my KZread channel is based around running different railway lines around London and the UK; offering local history and railway tidbits along the way! It's to encourage people to take an interest in their area as well as promoting the benefits of physical exercise. It's a different take on delivering information that's usually in a stationary format and it's also a way for the viewer to feel as if they are a part of the journey. I hope this clarifies the running narrative! Any other questions let me know and thanks again for watching 👍

@alanrobertson9790

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelson You must be fit. If I tried to speak and run you would just get panting.

Why are you running whilst making the video?

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Good question! My channel is all about running different railway lines around London and across the UK

Stratford domestic International!

Stratford Intranational

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Stratford In-train-ational? 🧐🚅

The service really worked well for the Olympics in 2012 - having been to a number of large sporting events, the transportation is often lost in the shuffle Atlanta and Beijing were absolutely shambles in comparison

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

From what I gathered it worked seamlessly in London with plenty of one-way systems in place to avoid overcrowding - I can't speak from experience as I wasn't living in London at the time! I'll need to take a look at Atlanta's and Beijing's transport during the Olympics - I'd have thought at least Beijing's would have had theirs together!

@adamhenley8295

2 жыл бұрын

@@itsmattnelson Atlantas issue was the design of the metro system itself - 2 lines with 1 central changing point so that station was constantly crushed Volunteers were often telling you to ignore the signs and go elsewhere - you’d head that way only to be directed back to where you came as it was indeed right (by which time that first volunteer had sodded off). Utter shambles organisationally - some athletes missed their events because drivers got lost 😳

I just wonder why you can't pronounce "aitch" correctly.

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Lol it’s part of my Northern accent!

Good piece of work Matt.Interesting & informative.Good to see you back.👍

@itsmattnelson

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! It’s great to be back ❤️

Great video Matt. The latest London ‘Tube’ map has removed “International” from Stratford station’s name, and added it only to the DLR terminus. I wonder if one of the possible new entrants from the Continent could be persuaded to terminate their London service at Stratford? As easy to connect to other lines there, as it is at St. Pancras. But. A Champagne Bar at Stratford International doesn’t ring true, at least in my ears !

Great video Matt. The latest London ‘Tube’ map has removed “International” from Stratford station’s name, and added it only to the DLR terminus. I wonder if one of the possible new entrants from the Continent could be persuaded to terminate their London service at Stratford? As easy to connect to other lines there, as it is at St. Pancras. But. A Champagne Bar at Stratford International doesn’t ring true, at least in my ears !