Stratford International on track to get cross-Channel trains in budget boost

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is pushing for funding in the upcoming budget to upgrade Stratford International station in east London, according to reports. This upgrade aims to transform the station into a hub for cross-Channel rail services, fulfilling its name and potential. Currently, the station primarily serves domestic routes to and from central London and Kent, while Eurostar trains pass through on their way to and from St Pancras.

Khan has been advocating for funding to make Stratford International truly "international" for the first time, opening up new opportunities for jobs, investment, and tourism. He emphasized the importance of unlocking the station's full potential and aiding in Stratford's continued success story. The required upgrade would involve significant changes, such as adding a border post, security checks, and passenger facilities to transform the two existing platforms into international-capable infrastructure.

The estimated cost of these upgrades is £20 million, with additional plans to reopen the station's previously mothballed international section, including platforms and a waiting area. Khan's proposal seeks to have one in three trains traveling to and from France stop at the station. Moreover, it could serve as a rail hub connecting the continent to the Midlands and the north of England.

The chancellor, John Healey, is reportedly set to approve Khan's plan by creating a business rate retention zone, which would allow local authorities to retain businesses rate growth for local regeneration purposes. Various rail companies, including Virgin, have been engaging with City Hall to explore operating international rail services from Stratford, with Virgin planning to launch services to the continent in 2030. This move would introduce direct competition to Eurostar on the cross-Channel route.