The railway challenge of the 21st century

The 109km long Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) is being built in two phases and, when complete, will halve the 70 minute journey time from London to the Channel Tunnel. The route has been designed to follow existing transport corridors - alongside major roads or existing railways - to limit environmental effects. New stations will be built at Stratford in east London and Ebbsfleet in north Kent, and London's St Pancras will be substantially expanded to become the high-speed rail link's international terminus. CTRL will also connect into the existing Ashford International station. Construction of Section 1 began in October 1998 to link the Channel Tunnel with the existing line to Waterloo station at Fawkham junction in north-west Kent. This section will be commissioned for use by autumn 2003. Section 2, which will bring the new line into St Pancras, will be completed in 2006 and will involve about 21km of tunnelling beneath London and the river Thames and a similar length of viaducts, at-grade slabs and earthworks for the permanent way.