Channel Tunnel rail link

High Speed 1
High Speed 1 approaching the Medway Viaducts.
Overview
Type	High-speed rail Heavy rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Greater London Essex Kent South East England
Termini	London St Pancras Channel Tunnel (UK portal)
Stations	4
Operation
Opened	2003 (Section 1) 2007 (Section 2)
Owner	UK Government Borealis Infrastructure and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (concession until 2040)
Operator(s)	Eurostar, Southeastern, DB Cargo UK
Rolling stock	Class 373 "Eurostar e300" (from 2003) Class 395 "Javelin" (from 2009) Class 92 (from 2011) Class 374 "Eurostar e320" (from 2015) Network Rail MPV (maintenance) Eurotunnel Class 0001 (rescue) DB ICE3 Class 407 (proposed) DB ICE4 (proposed)
Technical
Line length	108 km (67 mi)
Number of tracks	Double track throughout
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Loading gauge	UIC GC
Electrification	25 kV 50 Hz OHLE
Operating speed	300 km/h (186 mph) on section 1, 230 km/h (143 mph) on section 2

High Speed 1 (HS1), legally the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), is a 109-kilometre (68 mi) high-speed railway between London and the United Kingdom end of the Channel Tunnel.

The line carries international passenger traffic between the United Kingdom and Continental Europe; it also carries domestic passenger traffic to and from stations in Kent and east London, and Berne gauge freight traffic. The line crosses the River Medway, and under the River Thames, terminating at London St Pancras International railway station on the north side of central London. It cost £5.8 billion to build and opened on 14 November 2007. Trains reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) on section 1 and up to on section 2. Intermediate stations are at Stratford International in London and Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International in Kent.

International passenger services are provided by Eurostar, with journey times of London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in 2 hours 15 minutes, and St Pancras to Brussels-South in 1 hour 51 minutes. As of November 2015, Eurostar has used a fleet of 27 Class 373/1 multi-system trains capable of 300 kilometres per hour (186 mph) and 320 kilometres per hour (199 mph) Class 374 trains. Domestic high-speed commuter services serving the intermediate stations and beyond began on 13 December 2009. The fleet of 29 Class 395 passenger trains reach speeds of 225 kilometres per hour (140 mph).DB Cargo UK run freight services on High Speed 1 using adapted Class 92 locomotives, enabling flat wagons carrying continental-size swap body containers to reach London for the first time.