HS1

HS1, or High Speed 1, is a high-speed railway line in the United Kingdom that connects London with the Channel Tunnel. It forms the UK portion of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project and is designed to carry high-speed passenger services, including international Eurostar trains, as well as domestic high-speed services on the Kent coast.

The line runs from London St Pancras International to the Channel Tunnel terminal near Folkestone, passing through Kent and linking with the national rail network. Intermediate stations on the route include Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International. The railway is designed for speeds up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on modern sections, enabling significantly reduced travel times compared with conventional rail services.

Operations on HS1 are handled by HS1 Limited, a private-sector company that owns and maintains the infrastructure under a long-term concession. Eurostar operates international services from St Pancras to destinations such as Paris and Brussels, using the High Speed 1 line and the Channel Tunnel. Southeastern Highspeed also uses portions of the route to run domestic high-speed services from London to destinations in Kent, including Ashford and Canterbury.

History and development: The Channel Tunnel Rail Link project was developed to connect the Channel Tunnel with central London. Construction began in the 1990s, and the line opened for passenger services in stages in the mid- to late-2000s, with Eurostar moving to St Pancras International in 2007. The project is one of the principal components of the UK’s strategy to expand high-speed rail capacity and improve cross-channel connectivity.