Stratford Station. Photo: Lee10C / Shutterstock.com London Mayor Sadiq Khan is pushing ahead with plans to bring international rail services to Stratford International Station by around 2030, potentially giving millions of people in east London and surrounding areas easier access to mainland Europe.
The proposal could see trains to Paris, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam stop at Stratford, reducing the need for many passengers to travel to St Pancras International in central London before continuing their journeys.
Stratford already offers extensive connections to London's transport network. Passengers arriving on international services could transfer to the Docklands Light Railway, with Stratford's regional station providing access to the Jubilee, Elizabeth and Central lines, as well as London Overground services.
The longer-term ambition is to make Stratford a hub connecting rail services from northern England and the Midlands with the international network, potentially giving more travellers an alternative to flying to continental Europe.
According to the mayor, the connection to these major European cities could support job creation while attracting investors and encouraging economic growth in East London and other areas.
Stratford International Station was completed in 2006 and opened in 2009, but its international platforms have remained largely unused. The station currently serves Southeastern domestic trains to Kent.
The mayor believes it is time for the international station to fulfill its mission and ease the connection between London and the international rail network in Europe.
The project remains a proposal, with further work required before international operators can begin serving the station. If the plans progress as intended, Stratford could become another departure point for cross-Channel rail travel by the end of the decade.