High Speed 1

High Speed 1 is a 110-kilometre high-speed railway that links London with the Channel Tunnel. It crosses the River Medway on a 1.2-kilometre viaduct and tunnels under the River Thames before reaching London St Pancras International station. Intermediate stops include Stratford International in east London, Ebbsfleet International in northern Kent and Ashford International in southern Kent. The line carries international passenger trains to Paris and Brussels as well as domestic commuter services to Kent. Freight trains with continental-size containers also use the route, hauled by adapted Class 92 locomotives. The railway was built to cut journey times between London and the Continent. Eurostar trains now reach Paris in two hours fifteen minutes and Brussels in one hour fifty-one minutes. Domestic high-speed services began in 2009 with Class 395 trains that run at 225 kilometres per hour. The project included new bridges, tunnels and extensive archaeological research. In 2002 it won the Major Project Award at the British Construction Industry Awards. Visitors to St Pancras International station find a restored 19th-century building with a sweeping Victorian roof and modern platforms below. The station concourse has shops, cafés and a range of services for travellers. Stratford International station sits beside the Olympic Park with easy access to the Underground and Docklands Light Railway. Ashford International station has platforms served by both high-speed and classic lines, allowing through services to the Continent and local connections across Kent.