High Speed Eurostars at Ashford International! 16/05/15

You join me at Ashford International, where once again we experience full throttle Class 373 Eurostar sets on their high speed blast through the Southern English countryside on their way between London and Paris via High Speed One and the Channel Tunnel, at speeds of between 170 and 180mph!
Vantage points along the route, especially in Ashford, are sadly few and far between, but the road bridge that crosses the route at the western end of the station provided me with a fantastic vantage point to see these incredibly fast trains in full swing!
Ashford station, at it's present site, was opened by the South Eastern Railway in 1842, and later became part of the Southern Railway following the Grouping Act of 1923, and the British Railways Southern Region from 1948 onwards after nationalisation. The station was once one of two to serve Ashford, the other being Ashford West, opened by the London, Chatham and Dover Railway in 1884 for services via Maidstone East to London. This station was closed in 1899 when passenger services were diverted this station, but Ashford West continued to exist as a freight terminal until the structures were demolished in 1999 as part of the High Speed One construction project, 100 years after the last passengers used the station.
In the past, Ashford was dubbed the 'Crewe of the Southern Region', being a major junction on the South Eastern Mainline between London and Folkestone, with connections to Canterbury and Margate to the north, and services along the Marsh Line to Brighton to the south. Services at the station on the domestic railways consist largely of Southeastern Class 465's and 375's on mainline services, whilst Southern operates trains to Brighton with a Class 172. Other trains include freight services bound for the Dollands Moor freight yard on the English side of the Channel Tunnel, reaching their peak in the mid-to-late 1990's, but now in something of a slump thanks to the economic downturn.
In the past, Ashford has been rebuilt twice, the first being in the early 1960's, which resulted in two through platform loops and two bay platforms accessible from the east for terminating services. For phase two of the Kent electrification scheme in 1962, the two bay platforms were converted into through platforms whilst the main station buildings on either side of the line were replaced by an overbridge including a booking hall, newsagent and catering facilities.
In the early 1990's, the station underwent yet another major rebuilding to cater for brand new Eurostar services, including the demolition of the overbridge station buildings, and construction of a brand new international terminal on the southern side of the station. Eurostar services commenced in 1994, with originally 12 trains per day stopping at Ashford on their way to and from London Waterloo using the 3rd Rail 'Classic' route. The only remnant of the original 1960's structure is a small overbridge visible at the extreme right of some shots, but this is closed off to public access.
Throughout the following years, especially after the approval of High Speed One in 1997, the station has undergone continued redevelopment, with the domestic station entrance being pushed out to the north in an underpass beneath the HS1 flyover visible in the video.
The central platforms of Ashford were extended to accommodate the quarter-mile long Class 373 sets, and have been segregated from the rest of the station for the purpose of Customs and Immigration Control.
Since the opening of HS1, only 8 Eurostar trains per day call at Ashford International, including 4 trains to London St Pancras, 1 train to Brussels and 3 trains to Paris. Today however, an additional service was also available to Marseilles, arriving back at this station at 21:15 from France.
Due to the aforementioned customs control, Eurostar services are not allowed for domestic travel within the UK, with outbound services being pick-up only, and inbound being drop-off only. Domestic services along HS1 are provided by Southeastern's Javelin service, using a fleet of 29 Class 395 units delivered in 2009 and commencing operation in 2010.
The most spectacular part of this station though is the 2 mile long sweeping flyover that carries HS1 to the immediate north of the station over the Canterbury Lines, with a line speed of around 170 to 180mph, a true demonstration of the speedy efficiency that these Eurostar services provide on a daily routine!
Enjoy!

[@sam8alex12]

A very interesting film. Dont get to see films of the Euros much, so Thanks Rory

[@UjjawalKashyap]

Superb speedy actions!

[@itfcsam]

Excellent vantage points. Great stuff

[@rorymacve]

itfcsam Thank you very much! :D

[@jbdubuc6056]

Eurostar IS the most nice and magestic english train with thé velaro 320.Since 2007 Eurostar dont use third rail électricity because dangerous and the speed was 160km/h.

[@AndrewG1989]

I would like to go to Ashford International. I also would like to go to Ebbsfleet International. I have been to St. Pancras International and Stratford International.

[@eysteinn08]

Flott

[@FabianEason]

Great vid. Correction to your description, Eurostars are quarter mile long, not half a mile long.

[@rorymacve]

***** Thank you very much, and thanks for the correction! :D