Eurostar reacts to Westfield call for its trains to stop at Stratford

The railway company, which operates services between Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Brussels, has shot down prospects for its services to stop at Stratford International. 

It comes after East Ham MP Sir Stephen Timms made headlines over the past few days as he continues to call for the change to be made. 

The Labour politician has been rallying for international trains to call at the station since chairing Newham Council's planning committee in 1987. 

It was here that Sir Stephen first introduced his campaign for an international station in Stratford.

The matter regarding the station's future as international has been called into question again recently. 

Sir Stephen penned a letter to newly appointed Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy on the issue.

He wrote: "When we met at Queen Elizabeth (Olympic) Park in December 2021, we discussed the prospects for international trains to stop at Stratford International station.

"This appeared increasingly likely, given growing demand for cross-channel rail travel and the capacity constraints at St Pancras, where there is a limit on the number of passengers which can be handled.

"The original hope for international trains to stop at Stratford has still not been realised. 

"What are the prospects at present for the commencement of international services at Stratford?"

Sir Stephen Timms is pushing for international trains to call at Stratford (Image: UK Parliament) If international trains were to call at Stratford International station, passengers would embark and disembark here as well as at St Pancras International. 

The move has been supported by chief operating officer of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, which runs Westfield Stratford City shopping centre.

Scott Parsons claims the station is "primed" for the change. 

He said: “Since it launched in 2011, Stratford International Station has been primed to accommodate the Eurostar and as one of the UK’s most connected hubs, Stratford City not only offers the perfect solution to the overcapacity issue at St Pancras, but opens up new opportunities for those coming from east London and beyond.

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“With Westfield, the Olympic Park and the East Bank already contributing to the local economy as a thriving destination for retail, leisure, offices and residential; the arrival of millions of Eurostar passengers each year would provide a further significant boost to tourism and investment in the area and we fully support Sir Stephen Timms’ ambitions to make Stratford truly international."

The Recorder approached Eurostar for its thoughts on the potential for international trains to call at Stratford.

A spokesperson for the company simply said: "We have no plans to stop at Stratford International."