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<press_releases>
	<article id="1">
		<title><![CDATA[Record pictures of St Pancras]]></title>
		<date>21092005</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[A set of 4 large landscape photographs are to be unveiled at a new exhibition hosted by LCR. The pictures, which capture the scale and magnificence of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link works at St Pancras, are the work of Michael Collins, an artist who works with a large plate camera to produce meticulous landscape photographs. 

Michael’s colour photographs are printed to a size of 4 x 5 ft., so that all the details in the picture are visible to the viewer. Michael works in the tradition of the 19th century Record Pictures, which were industrial photographs commissioned to record the civil engineering projects of the day.

Michael says:  “I am delighted that LCR have given me this opportunity to exhibit my landscape photographs of what is arguably the most challenging civil engineering project in Europe.”

The exhibition comprises four Michael Collins’ landscapes taken between 2003 and 2005. It runs from 1st October to 8th November at The Gymnasium, Pancras Road, London NW1, and is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 6.30pm, Saturday 9am to 12.00pm. Admission is free and booking is not required.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="2">
		<title><![CDATA[New Managing Director for CTRL]]></title>
		<date>06092005</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Dave Pointon has joined Union Railways (North) Ltd (URN), the client responsible for building the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) as Managing Director.

Dave joins the CTRL project after eighteen years with Eurotunnel where he had overall responsibility for bringing into full operation the Channel Tunnel, railway and all associated equipment and systems.

Subsequently he was appointed Technical Director responsible for developing and maintaining the Tunnel and its electro-mechanical and telecommunications systems, Terminals at Folkestone and Coquelles, rolling stock, control centres and emergency services.

Originally on secondment from Bechtel, a global engineering, construction and project management company Dave rose quickly within Eurotunnel holding a number of posts before his final position as Strategy and Planning Director responsible for liaising with Governments and industrial partners in pursuing financial restructuring options.

Union Railways and London & Continental Railways (the parent company of URN) believe that Dave brings considerable relevant experience to his new role and are confident that he will lead the client team to successfully bringing the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in on time and to budget.

At 58 years old with four children Dave feels that this is a fascinating time to join the project and sees a significant synergy between the completion works he undertook at Eurotunnel and the last two years of construction with CTRL.

Dave says: “I am delighted to join an organisation that is recognised as the biggest construction project in Europe and look forward to working with Rail Link Engineering the project manager and London & Continental Railways.”

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="3">
		<title><![CDATA[Major work completed for Thameslink Box]]></title>
		<date>04052005</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) has completed the major construction work required for the new Thameslink ‘box’ beneath St Pancras station in London.

The box is the shell for a new station which will ultimately replace King’s Cross Thameslink station on Pentonville Road. It is large enough to accommodate a twin-platform station that would allow passengers direct access to the refurbished St Pancras International which is scheduled to open in 2007.

Cross-London Thameslink services were suspended from 11 September 2004 so that a section of the tunnel used by these trains could be demolished and replaced by the box. The cross-London services are due to restart on 16 May 2005.

Tim Smart of CTRL sponsor Union Railways said: "The on time re-opening of the Thameslink through route will mark the achievement of another important milestone for the CTRL and is the result of a tremendous effort by our contractors and project management team.

“Successfully bringing together civil and railway engineering within tight constraints and working collaboratively with Network Rail and the Train Operating Companies to minimise disruption and create future benefits for the travelling public is just what CTRL is all about."

The Thameslink box is approximately 400 metres long, 23 metres wide, 11 metres deep and required the excavation of more than 110,000 cubic metres (198,000 tonnes) of material.

‘Top-down’ construction methods were used to complete the work as quickly as possible while avoiding extensive night-time work close to local residents.

Prior to the suspension of through trains, a total of 980 piles were sunk either side of the original tunnel to form the walls of the box. The piles are 1,200mm in diameter with an average depth of 24 metres.

Concrete beams forming the roof of the box were lifted into position as sections of piling were completed. A total of 302 beams, each 24 metres long, were required plus 25 plate metal girders that each weighed up to 120 tonnes.

After train services were suspended, contractors demolished the old brick-lined tunnel and excavated outward to the new piled walls.

The floor of the box is made from 12,000 cubic metres of concrete forming a base slab. Steel reinforcement cages for the slab were made off-site and delivered on a ‘just-in-time’ basis.

Railway infrastructure work for the box included the reinstatement of 700 metres of track slab with pre-cast sleepers, installation of new rails and 25-kilovolt overhead line equipment and the fitting of signalling, power and communications equipment.

The main contractor for the civil engineering work is CORBER, a joint venture of Costain, Laing-O’Rourke, Bachy Soletanche and Emcor Rail working under CTRL Contract 105.  

The main contractor for rail infrastructure work is Mowlem Railways.

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	</article>
	<article id="4">
		<title><![CDATA[Permission given for Chambers restoration]]></title>
		<date>29032005</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The London Borough of Camden last night resolved to grant planning permission for a £150 million programme of restoration and refurbishment for the 323,000 square feet, Grade 1 listed, former Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station, formerly known as St Pancras Chambers. 

The approval follows an application submitted by the Manhattan Loft Corporation (MLC) and London Continental Railways (LCR) in July earlier last year.

St Pancras Chambers is controlled by LCR who are responsible for the development of both the Channel Tunnel Rail Link as well as the new international station at St Pancras behind the main building. MLC will be responsible for the development of the whole project.

Working closely with the London Borough of Camden, English Heritage and The Victorian Society, the development team will restore the Victorian splendour of the original building by bringing the majority of it back to its original use.
The planning permission allows for a 5 star 245 bed hotel with two restaurants, two bars, a health and leisure centre, a ballroom, 20 meeting and function rooms and 68 new apartments. 

The scheme retains the external appearance of the original building and a sympathetically designed hotel extension is proposed at the rear. All the internal rooms of historic significance will be restored to their former glory with appropriate public access.

Designed and built between 1868 and 1876 as a hotel by Sir George Gilbert Scott, the great Victorian architect of such buildings as the Foreign and Colonial Office in Whitehall and the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, it has been over seventy years since the departure of the last paying guest. 

Despite being frequently cited as one of the nation’s most loved and recognisable buildings, since its closure as a hotel in 1935 it has been left to deteriorate, having been used as offices by British Railways till the early 1980’s, after which it has remained vacant.

Subject to the conclusion of any legal negotiations, MLC intend to start work on site in January next year and anticipates that the project will take approximately 30 months to complete, finishing in 2008.

The architects for the development are RHWL in conjunction with Richard Griffiths Architects. The apartments will be formally launched in June. The sales contact telephone number to register interest in purchasing an apartment is Tel. 0870 990 7566.

Harry Handelsman, CEO of MLC said: “St Pancras Chambers is the biggest challenge that MLC has had over the last 13 years. This magnificent Grade 1 listed building with all its intricate features will, on its completion in 2008, be the most exciting residential development and hotel in London and the catalyst for the regeneration of Kings Cross.

Commenting on behalf of LCR, Roger Groom, Development Director said: “The refurbishment of St Pancras Chambers building is a flagship project for the regeneration and revival of the wider King’s Cross area. The development of the new St Pancras International Station, due to open in 2007, will provide connections into the European high speed rail network as well as an unrivalled interchange to the UK railway and London Underground network. To the rear of the Station and Chambers, over 8 million sqft of major urban regeneration is planned on the 58 acre King’s Cross Central site. St Pancras Chambers will increasingly be at the heart of a major new quarter for London.”

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="5">
		<title><![CDATA[CTRL safety success is mega]]></title>
		<date>17032005</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) has won a major construction industry award thanks to the project’s strong emphasis on health and safety.

The CTRL took first place in the ‘Project Safety’ category at the Quality in Construction Awards 2005 against robust competition from three other short-listed organisations. Summing up the CTRL’s health and safety success, the award judges noted: ‘The CTRL’s achievement is mega – it just dwarfs everything else.’

Alan Dyke, Managing Director Union Railways (North) said: “Winning this very special award comes down to a commitment to health and safety by everyone on the CTRL. We aim to continue this good work and keep our sights set on achieving a target of zero accidents.”

The judging panel looked for clear evidence that safety is a top management priority and forms a key part of a ‘respect for people’ agenda.
 
Presentations to the judges were made by representatives from across the CTRL demonstrating how the commitment to health and safety runs through the whole project. 

Safety initiatives presented to the judges included the Target Zero Accidents (TZA) campaign and Safety Task Analysis Risk Reduction Talk (STARRT).

TZA aims to change attitudes to health and safety through training and refresher courses. This includes a special TZA truck that travels around the construction areas to present safety information and videos for site based staff.

STARRT is an easy to use briefing system which helps workers to identify any potential health and safety issues before a task begins.

The Quality in Construction Awards were presented on 16 March 2005.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="6">
		<title><![CDATA[High speed rail project helps London 2012 bid]]></title>
		<date>17022005</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The second phase of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) is 75% complete and on track to open in 2007, providing a boost for London’s Olympic Games bid. 

The high-speed line will play a key role in transporting passengers quickly and efficiently to the Olympic site near Stratford should London be selected to host the 2012 Games.

Progress on the CTRL was demonstrated to members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 17 February when they were driven in a convoy of Land Rovers through one of the new rail tunnels running between Stratford and King’s Cross.

Alan Dyke, Managing Director of Union Railways (North) said: “We were delighted to support the London 2012 bid in this way. The IOC’s delegates had an exciting first-hand glimpse into the future of London’s transport infrastructure which demonstrated the capability of the UK construction industry to deliver major infrastructure projects safely and on time.”

Paul Charles, Director of Communications for Eurostar said: “Eurostar will run more daily services between London and Paris/Brussels during the Games – carrying passengers from the Continent to Stratford or St Pancras International in the heart of London.

“The completion of the CTRL in 2007 will enable Eurostar to increase its frequency and run more services each hour. From 2007 fastest London-Paris journeys will be 2 hours 15 minutes and London-Brussels just 1 hour 53 minutes.”

In 2007, St Pancras station will become the new international terminal for Eurostar. The original station building, the historic Barlow train shed, is being fully restored while new train decks on the east and west side of the station will enable the number of platforms to be increased from six to thirteen.

A below-ground ‘box’ for a future station is also being constructed below St Pancras on the cross-London Thameslink route. 

CTRL Section 2 also includes two new major stations for international and domestic services at Ebbsfleet (north Kent) and Stratford (east London).

Recent CTRL progress figures show that:

St Pancras International (east and west decks) are 52% complete overall
St Pancras International (Barlow shed refurbishment) is 27% complete overall
Stratford International station is 33% complete overall
Ebbsfleet International station is 24% complete overall
St Pancras Thameslink Box is 61% complete overall

Other progress figures show that:

59km of new track has been laid (of 110km required)
700 conductor masts for the overhead wires that carry power to the trains have been erected (of 2,000 required)
300km of cables for communication and control systems have been installed (of 500km required)

Mr Dyke said: “We are confident of achieving the timely completion of the remaining work for stations, railway infrastructure and the testing and commissioning of the new line. The project is well placed to build on the earlier success of CTRL Section 1 in delivering a safe and reliable high-speed railway.”

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="7">
		<title><![CDATA[Go ahead for new Eurostar depot in east London]]></title>
		<date>17112004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has confirmed that a new maintenance depot for Eurostar trains linked to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) is to be built at Temple Mills near Stratford in east London.

The new depot will come into service when Eurostar trains begin to operate from London St Pancras International in 2007, following completion of Section 2 of the CTRL from north Kent into St Pancras.  It will replace the current North Pole International depot in west London.

Original plans for the CTRL envisaged that Eurostars from St Pancras would gain access to North Pole International via the North London and West London lines, but recent increases in traffic on the already-busy North London line mean that Eurostars cannot be accommodated without costly and disruptive infrastructure improvements.

A depot at Temple Mills was always seen as a likely longer term requirement of the overall CTRL project.  Provision for it was made in the CTRL Act, and the Government has now decided to bring construction forward in the interests of efficient operation of the CTRL service and the Eurostar fleet.  The depot will be on existing railway land a mile north of the CTRL station at Stratford, and rail access to it will be to the larger European loading gauge so that, like the rest of the CTRL, it can be used in the future by trains built to more generous European dimensions.

Commenting on Alistair Darling’s announcement Rob Holden, Chairman of London & Continental Railways (LCR) which is building the CTRL and which owns Eurostar (UK) Ltd, said “We are very pleased to have reached agreement on the last significant piece of the CTRL project.  The new depot will underpin Eurostar’s expanded operations from St Pancras, and will also be a significant employer, during both construction and operation.”

The Government has agreed in principle with LCR to provide up to £402m for the new depot, which is not included in LCR’s finance package for the CTRL.  Preliminary works have already started on site.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="8">
		<title><![CDATA[Major engineering completed for London Tunnels]]></title>
		<date>26102004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Major civil engineering work for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) high-speed railway tunnels under London is now complete. The last section of concrete paving required within the tunnels was laid on Friday, 22 October 2004.

The entire paving job for the 35km of tunnels took only 225 days to complete and used 98,000 cubic metres of concrete. 

The CTRL London Tunnels run between the King’s Cross Railways Lands north of St Pancras station and Dagenham. Two parallel tunnels each carry a single track on which trains will run at up to 230km/h (143 mph). The tunnel bores were completed in March 2004.

Three separate paving operations were required in each tunnel to form the concrete track bed on which sleepers and rails will be laid, and a walkway on either side. Added together, this amounted to a total of 105km of paving - a distance almost equal to the entire CTRL route between the Channel Tunnel and St Pancras. 

Special paving machines were used to extrude the concrete to the required shape and profile. High quality control standards were essential to maintain the exact alignment and the correct workability of the concrete, as the walkways had to be self-supporting within two minutes of being laid.

The last section of paving was placed in tunnels that run between the King’s Cross Railway Lands and Stratford. The two 7.5km long tunnels were paved in just 83 days with the construction teams averaging 540m of paving per day - equivalent to 180m of completed tunnel - and placing 41,000 cubic metres of concrete in total.

Work is now in hand to complete some minor work at Barrington Road ventilation shaft in Newham and for the general ‘tidy-up’ of the tunnels.

The successful completion of the paving will enable the tunnels to be handed over to the CTRL Systemwide contractors who will install track, overhead power, signalling and communications systems and electrical and mechanical equipment.

Civil engineering for the London Tunnels is carried out on behalf of client Union Railways (North) Ltd under an alliance of four major contracts supervised by project manager Rail Link Engineering. The major contracts are:

Contract 220 - main contractor Nishimatsu-Cementation Skanska Joint Venture - for 7.5km of twin-tunnel between the King’s Cross Railway Lands and Stratford.

Contract 230 - main contractor Skanska - for the 1km-long Stratford Station Box and Land Raise.

Contract 240 - main contractor Costain/Skanska/Bachy Soletanche Joint Venture – for 4.7km of twin-tunnel between Stratford and Barrington Road, Newham.

Contract 250 - main contractor Nuttall-Wayss/Freytag-Kier Joint Venture – for 5.3km of twin-tunnel between Barrington Road and Dagenham.

- ends -]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="9">
		<title><![CDATA[Last spoil excavations at Pepper Hill tunnel]]></title>
		<date>19102004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[On Wednesday 13 October 2004 the final “plug” of chalk was removed from the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) tunnel beneath the A2 at Pepper Hill, Gravesend. As well as being a significant step towards finishing the tunnel, the removal of the plug marks the completion of spoil excavations required for Section 2 of the CTRL.

Pepper Hill tunnel is 564m long and was constructed by building the walls and roof first then excavating 45,000 cubic metres of earth and chalk from below.  The tunnel structure which is supported on 757 piles required more than 4000 tonnes of steel and 33,500 cubic metres of concrete. 

The tunnel is part of CTRL Contract 342, which covers 3.5 kilometres of the new high-speed railway between Southfleet and the Thames tunnel at Swanscombe. The work is being carried out on behalf of client Union Railways (North) Ltd by the Hochtief/Norwest Holst joint venture (HNH JV), supervised by Rail Link Engineering (RLE).

Geoff Peagram Project Director (HNH JV) said “Construction of the tunnel was challenging as we had to maintain three lanes of traffic in both directions on the A2. This involved the work being carried out in four phases and the construction of a temporary embankment. Other challenges included restricted working heights due to overhead electricity cables and major diversions of underground utilities. “

Congratulating those involved, C342 Contract Manager for RLE Robert Shaul said: “The tunnel works are on the project critical path and a timely handover to CTRL Contract 576 for track-laying is crucial. Union Railways (North) Ltd, Rail Link Engineering, Hochtief Norwest Holst JV and their sub-contractors are working together to complete the remaining work and with the tunnel excavations now complete, we are well positioned to achieve this.”

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="10">
		<title><![CDATA[Rail Link project helps Operation Welwyn]]></title>
		<date>15092004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The Channel Tunnel Rail Link project (CTRL) has sponsored a new vehicle for Operation Welwyn, the Metropolitan Police’s anti-vice, drugs and street crime unit working in the King’s Cross St Pancras area.

The vehicle will help the Welwyn team to deploy officers quickly and covertly when needed.  Sergeant Chris Skelt said “Welwyn now covers Euston as well, and we desperately needed a vehicle of this type to improve our ability to cover the enlarged area.  We discussed with CTRL the best use for their generous support, and the result gives us a new degree of flexibility”.

Alan Dyke, Managing Director of CTRL developer Union Railways, said “The CTRL is bringing major changes to the King’s Cross St Pancras area, and our headquarters team and the construction workforce are part of the community which Operation Welwyn covers.  We are very pleased to be able to help the Welwyn team do an even better job."

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="11">
		<title><![CDATA[Key industry professionals sign up for conference]]></title>
		<date>06092004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Construction industry professionals will be attending this year’s European Construction Institute’s (ECI) annual Safety, Health and Environment Conference in London on Thursday 23rd September 2004. There are still some exhibitor and delegate spaces available at the event. 

This year’s conference, hosted by the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), focuses on occupational health in the UK and European construction industry. Health is moving out of safety's shadow to the forefront in construction, becoming a prime focus for design and management. 

The conference’s presentations and exhibitions by some of the UK's key health and safety professions and supply companies will equip health and safety professionals with essential resources for improving the construction industry's health & safety performance.

Isobel Stephen, Head of Health, Disability and Work Division Department for Works and Pensions and speakers from major construction projects and contractors will share their experiences of managing and promoting workable health and safety practices.  

To register your details for this year's conference at the Novotel Hotel on Euston Road, London or to find out more information on exhibiting at the conference, contact Marnie Beckett at the CTRL on 020 7681 5184. More information about the conference and copies of the registration brochure are available at <a href="http://www.eci-online.org/visitors." target="_blank">www.eci-online.org/visitors.</a>

The conference is a not-for-profit venture and any money raised at the conference will be donated to the conference's chosen charity, Adopt-A-Minefield (UK). Adopt-A-Minefield raises awareness and funds to clear landmines and rehabilitate landmine survivors.

The CTRL is one of the UK’s biggest construction projects and is the first major new railway to be built in the UK for over a century. 

The CTRL has received industry recognition for its innovative approaches to construction and rail health and safety with an accident frequency rate well below industry average. This high safety standard and performance is due to the health and safety management systems developed and managed by the project manager and designer, Rail Link Engineering (RLE), the contractors and the client, Union Railways (North) Ltd.

The ECI aims to build and champion a culture motivated to raising the performance standards of the construction industry across Europe. The Construction in Europe conference series seeks to bring together professionals from across Europe to learn more about the project environment, best practices being deployed in ECI member companies and, crucially, to add their own experience to the mix through a series of interactive break out sessions.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="12">
		<title><![CDATA[CTRL staff raise thousands for charity]]></title>
		<date>03092004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Staff at the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) site in Rainham, Essex raised £2,750 for two local charities thanks to the demonstration of safe working practices and fundraising activities. Since 2001 almost £20,000 has been donated to charity by workers at the site.

At a presentation in the site offices a cheque for £1,750 was handed to the Little Havens Children’s Hospice and Victim Support, Havering was given a cheque for £1,000. 

£750 of the donation to the Little Havens Children’s Hospice was made by Union Railways (North) Ltd, Rail Link Engineering (RLE), CTRL project manager and designer, and contractor Morgan Vinci in recognition of the workforce of CTRL Contract 310 achieving a half a million hours worked without a serious accident.

The Little Havens Childrens Hospice offers specialist respite and terminal care for children and their families affected by life limiting and life threatening illness. Victim Support Little Havering helps residents cope with the effects of crime by providing confidential support and information to victims of crime and to witnesses attending local courts.

The CTRL safety awards are run project-wide and recognise each contract’s achievements attaining 250,000, 500,000 and 1,000,000 plus man-hours worked without a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reportable incident. Contracts reaching these milestones are given cash awards by the CTRL project to donate to the charity of their choice. The awards are the latest of many safety initiatives employed on the CTRL to get the safety message across to those most at risk - the workforce.

Work on CTRL Contract 310, the 14kms of civil works that will eventually support the railway between the east portal of the CTRL London Tunnels at Ripple Lane in Dagenham and the west portal of the CTRL Thames Tunnel at Thurrock, started in January 2002. Morgan Vinci is the main contractor for the £178million contract - the largest civil contract awarded on CTRL. It includes 3 major viaducts, 11 bridges, 3 major highway diversions, utility equipment diversions, and about 10 km of piled slab to support the new high-speed line.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="13">
		<title><![CDATA[Going live at St Pancras]]></title>
		<date>10082004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) project is warning line-side communities that the overhead electric power supply on the Midland Main Line railway, south of Kentish Town into St Pancras station will be re-energised from 13th August 2004.

The line is being re-electrified to enable Thameslink electric trains to run into St Pancras from the north when necessary, and is part of the continuing work to turn St Pancras into the London terminal for the CTRL.

A CTRL spokesperson said “With the overhead lines live there is even more reason for the public not to trespass on the railway or on nearby CTRL construction sites.” 

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="14">
		<title><![CDATA[MLC and LCR submit Chambers planning application]]></title>
		<date>14082004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Manhattan Loft Corporation (MLC) and London Continental Railways (LCR) have submitted a planning and listed building applications to London Borough of Camden on 30th July 2004 for a 244-room hotel and 68 apartments in the former Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras Station.

St Pancras Chambers is controlled by LCR who are responsible for the development of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link into a new international station at St Pancras. MLC will be responsible for the development of the whole project and Whitbread PLC, exclusive franchise operators of the Marriott brand in the UK, will be the hotel operator.

The application includes a 5 star hotel, with two restaurants, 2 bars, a health and leisure centre, a ballroom and 20 meeting and function rooms, in all totalling approx. 323,000 sq ft. The total cost of the development is approximately £100 million.

St. Pancras Chambers is a Grade 1 listed building, which fronts St. Pancras Station. It was built as the Midland Grand Hotel between 1868 and 1876 to designs by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The building closed as a hotel in 1935 and has been empty for the last 20 years.

The scheme retains the external appearance of the original building and a sympathetically designed hotel extension is proposed at the rear. All the internal rooms of historic significance will be restored to their former glory with appropriate public access.

The development team has been formulating the proposals in close consultation with the London Borough of Camden’s planning and conservations officers, English Heritage, The Victorian Society and CABE. The architects for the development are RHWL in conjunction with Richard Griffiths Architects.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="15">
		<title><![CDATA[CTRL radio system contract awarded]]></title>
		<date>30072004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Union Railways (North) Ltd has awarded a contract for the design, procurement, installation supervision, testing and commissioning of the radio propagation system for Section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL).

The £6.5million contract has been awarded to Thales Telecom Services, the leading provider of specialist telecoms services to the UK transport and telecoms markets, with over 50 years experience in the railway telecommunications sector and major transport communications projects.

The contract, known as CTRL Contract 558, will provide the radio masts, tunnel leaky feeder and repeater systems and the connection to radio base stations to provide a communication system for signallers, drivers, railway staff and the emergency response operators on CTRL Section 2.  The CTRL Section 2 system will be integrated with that already in use on CTRL Section 1.

Design work will start immediately, with installation commencing on site in 2004 and testing and commissioning due to be complete by the end of 2006.

Announcing the award, Alan Dyke, MD of Union Railways (North) Ltd said “Thales’ ability to satisfy CTRL’s exacting requirements for delivering and maintaining operational communication systems will play a major role in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the CTRL.”

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="16">
		<title><![CDATA[Evidence of Stone Age elephant hunters in Kent]]></title>
		<date>18062004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Construction work for Ebbsfleet station on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) in north Kent has unearthed a 400,000 year old Early Stone Age site.

The major find is the skeleton of an elephant surrounded by flint tools lying undisturbed where they were originally discarded. Very few elephant remains have been found in Britain and this is the first to indicate butchery of the carcass by early humans.

The skeleton has been identified as a straight-tusked Palaeoloxodon antiquus – an extinct species last present in Britain more than 100,000 years ago. These elephants, which were completely different from the more widely-known mammoths, would have made an impressive sight being over twice the size of the largest modern African elephant. 

Bones from other large animals including rhinoceros, buffalo and wild horse have also been found nearby. The remains were preserved in muddy sediment near what was then the edge of a small lake.

The archaeological investigation is being carried out by Oxford Archaeology on behalf of CTRL project managers Rail Link Engineering (RLE) and its client Union Railways (North).

Helen Glass, Archaeology Manager for RLE said: "This find is an amazing discovery. During pre-construction investigations across the Ebbsfleet Valley we found an Anglo-Saxon mill as well as the substantial remains of a Roman town and villa complex. We thought we had found everything but it seems that the best has been saved until last."

The site was first discovered late last year by Dr Francis Wenban-Smith of Southampton University during routine archaeological monitoring as construction work proceeded. The elephant skeleton was discovered in April during the detailed excavations which followed.

Dr Wenban-Smith said: "This is a very exciting find. Only a handful of other elephant remains have been found in Britain and none of these give any indication of human exploitation. This would have been a pretty hefty beast. It would have been three or four times the weight of an average family car. It is hard to imagine early humans successfully hunting a healthy specimen but if it was already trapped in the bog, it could have been killed by early humans with wooden spears and then butchered for its meat with flint tools."

The manufacture of flint tools at the same spot, which would have been unsuitable for human occupation due to its boggy nature, almost certainly indicates butchery of the carcass for meat. 

Studying the sediments at the site has produced a wide range of evidence about the pre-historic climate and the local environment. The remains of sticklebacks, frogs, newts and aquatic molluscs confirm the existence of standing water. Pollen grains from a number of tree species including birch, pine, oak, elm, alder and hazel, along with teeth from a woodmouse, indicate an interglacial climate similar to, or warmer than, the present day.

Construction work in the area is being carried out under CTRL Contract 342, which covers 3.5 kilometres of new high-speed railway between the southern end of the Thames Tunnel and Pepper Hill. The work is being carried out by the Hochtief/Norwest Holst Joint Venture. 

Contract 342 includes a 500-metre cut and cover tunnel under the A2 trunk road, bridges for the North Kent Line railway and Galley Hill Road, construction of the structural shell for the new Ebbsfleet international station and associated highway works.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="17">
		<title><![CDATA[Planning applications for King's Cross Central]]></title>
		<date>27052004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[*Applications cover 67 acres of land between and to the north of King’s Cross/St Pancras
*742,275 m2 of mixed use development
*Refurbishment, investment and new uses (over 93,000 m2) for over 20 historic buildings and structures, including the 4 listed Gas Holder frames
*Up to 486,280 m2 of business and employment uses, to transform King’s Cross into one of the capital’s primary business locations – up to 30,000 jobs overall
*At least 1,800 new homes to be delivered
*Retail, leisure, health, education and cultural uses
*A structure of 20 major new public routes and 10 major new public spaces covering 25 acres (37% of the whole site)
*3 new bridges across the Regent’s Canal.

On Friday 28 May 2004, Argent St George, London and Continental Railways, and Exel submitted the planning and heritage applications for King’s Cross Central, a 67-acre brownfield opportunity site which has the best public transport accessibility in London.

The planning applications are a culmination of over 4 years of consultation, research, planning and design work by Argent St George, the landowners, their partners and professional teams, which include Allies and Morrison, Arup, CB Richard Ellis, DL&E, EDAW, English Cogger Partnership, IHCM, Jones Lang La Salle, Lovells, Lunson and Mitchenall, Porphyrios Associates, RPS and Townshend Landscape Architects. Allies and Morrison and Porphyrios Associates have led the design work for the applications over the last three years.

In particular, the applications follow and build upon four key public consultation documents:

Principles for a Human City (July 2001), which set out ten key principles for the regeneration for the area
Parameters for Regeneration (December 2001) which described and explained some of the constraints, challenges and opportunities that King’s Cross Central presents
A Framework for Regeneration (October 2002) which set out initial proposals and ideas for the site, and:
Framework Findings (2003) which summarises the results of the extensive consultation undertaken around A Framework for Regeneration. 

Roger Madelin of Argent St George said:  “We share the aspiration of Camden and Islington Councils and local people to see the major regeneration of King’s Cross started and completed as soon as possible.
 
“After 4 years of extensive planning and consultation, we have submitted exciting plans that can deliver that regeneration and meet the objective we set ourselves and published in 2001 – to devise and deliver, over the next 15 or so years, an exciting and successful mixed use development; one that will shape a dense, vibrant and distinctive urban quarter, bring local benefits and make a lasting contribution to London.

“Our proposals will make King’s Cross a stunning and integral part of central London – one that combines the best of outstanding heritage with new design of the highest quality.
 
“We want to attract and accommodate the full range of central London businesses, large and small, creating up to 30,000 jobs, alongside at least 1,800 homes, a distinctive mix of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants, plus community, health, education, cultural and other uses. We want to see learning and knowledge, art and design play an important role in defining King’s Cross as a busy, lively and eclectic destination, for people across London and international visitors arriving on the CTRL. 

“We have learnt a lot from the last 4 years of talking and listening and have made significant changes to the ideas outlined in ‘A Framework for Regeneration’ some 18 months ago. We are keeping and refurbishing more of the historic buildings and providing scope for many more homes. We are making a commitment to re-erect and re-use the listed Gas Holder frames in a new location for homes and possibly shops, cafés, a creché and leisure uses.

“The proposals now also include a more varied pattern of development along the Regent’s Canal and the size and shape of many development zones have also been adjusted. South of the canal the site now accommodates an additional major public space, together with additional routes to Goods Way and the Regent’s Canal. The north-east part of the development has been changed to promote and facilitate better integration across York Way, with existing communities and neighbourhoods in Islington to the east.

“Overarching all this is the aim of finally making King’s Cross clean, safe and accessible with new facilities, services, jobs and training opportunities.” 

Stephen Jordan, Managing Director of London & Continental Stations & Property, commented: “National, regional and local planning policies together confirm that King’s Cross is the right place for a high density mixed use development. Our proposals meet the aspirations of the Government to make maximum use of key brownfield sites around transport interchanges. The London Plan has identified King’s Cross as a key opportunity area for delivering a dense, mixed use scheme. Camden and Islington Councils want to see the area regenerated and to provide new opportunities for local people."

He also added on the CTRL: “The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is the catalyst for the long overdue regeneration of King’s Cross and all of the tunnelling for Section 2 from Kent to St Pancras was completed earlier this year. Work on the extension and refurbishment of St Pancras Station to accommodate Eurostar trains continues on time and on budget and, all in all, we are well on track for our scheduled opening in 2007.”

Roger Mann, Exel’s Director of Property, said: “As a joint landowner, Exel is pleased to be involved in one of London’s most ambitious and innovative development projects in recent years. We are engaged in every step of the planning process and look forward to remaining a part of the regeneration of King’s Cross into an area that will build on its history to serve the future needs of all communities and groups.”

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="18">
		<title><![CDATA[It's a blessing for new station at St Pancras]]></title>
		<date>24052004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The new interim station at St Pancras has been blessed at a Service of Blessing on May 12, the 1,700th anniversary of St Pancras of Rome Day. 

The Reverend Rob Wickham, Vicar of Somers Town performed the blessing on the station concourse exactly a month to the day after the first passenger services commenced on Easter Monday.  

An unusual announcement on the public address system invited passengers to join staff from the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), station staff, church wardens and parishioners for the midday service. Station manager Mike Page welcomed the congregation. Following a Bible reading Reverend Rob Wickham sprinkled holy water and blessed the station. A choir of pupils from St Mary and St Pancras Primary Schools, accompanied by guitar, performed gospel hymns which reflected a railway theme. 

Mike Page said “I was delighted that Father Rob agreed to conduct a service to bless the new station. I would like to thank him and the teachers and children of St Mary & St Pancras. The choir’s enthusiastic rendition of "This Train is Bound for Glory and Swing Low Sweet Chariot was a real inspiration to us all.”

Father Rob Wickham said “How appropriate that as we celebrated 1,700 years since the martyrdom of St Pancras, we could look towards the future of the St Pancras area by asking for God's blessing upon the new platforms of St Pancras station.   As local people, the station officials and the developers gathered, we were reminded of the great heritage and history of our local area, but also the importance of working in partnership to create the best environment and facility for London as a world city and for the local community. To end the service, we then joined in with the choir of St Mary and St Pancras Primary Schools, making their debut performance, singing "This train is bound for heaven". 

The new interim station at St Pancras is part of the CTRL works to transform the station into London’s international terminal for the future. 

The existing platforms in the magnificent Grade 1-listed arched ‘trainshed’, designed by William Barlow in the 1860s, have been closed so that the building can be refurbished, and Midland Mainline services have moved to platforms in the interim station, which has been built as part of the new St Pancras extension. 

The finished station will have six international platforms for Eurostar services to Paris and Brussels, three platforms for the high speed Kent domestic services, four platforms for Midland Mainline and two underground platforms for Thameslink.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="19">
		<title><![CDATA[St Pancras interim station open]]></title>
		<date>03042004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[A new interim station at St Pancras opened on Easter Monday, marking a major milestone towards the transformation of the station into London’s international terminal for the future.

After almost 140 years of train services to the Midlands from the historic Victorian station the last train, the 23.40 to Derby, left on Good Friday. 

On Saturday and Easter Sunday St Pancras closed while the final track and signalling connections were made to the platforms in a new interim station.  On Easter Monday the first train to leave the new station was Midland Mainline’s 06.05 to Sheffield.

Ian Gardner, Project Manager for Rail Link Engineering (RLE) said “It is not often that a new mainline station is opened in the UK and it has been a fantastic achievement by a team of seven major contractors to deliver it successfully on the planned date.”

As part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) project, St Pancras is being extended and renovated to become London’s new international terminal.  

In order to complete the project the existing platforms in the magnificent Grade 1-listed arched ‘trainshed’, designed by William Barlow in the 1860s, have been closed so that the building can be refurbished, and Midland Mainline services have moved to platforms in the interim station, which has been built as part of the new St Pancras extension.

The interim station is located to the north-east of the existing station, and will be used by Midland Mainline until 2006, when they will move to their new permanent home in four platforms to the north-west of the Barlow trainshed. 

The interim station will then be prepared for its permanent role as the home of the Kent high-speed services which are planned to operate on the CTRL.

The finished station will have six international platforms for Eurostar services to Paris and Brussels, three platforms for the high speed Kent domestic services, four platforms for Midland Mainline and two underground platforms for Thameslink.

Mike Page, St Pancras Station Manager for the owners London & Continental Stations & Property, said “I am extremely pleased that the move went so well. It is not everyday that the operations of a major station are moved without significant disruption to passenger services. 

The successful completion of the station was largely due to the close collaboration between the key partners: London & Continental Stations and Property, Union Railways, RLE, Midland Mainline and the CTRL contractors.”

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="20">
		<title><![CDATA[New Commercial Director for CTRL]]></title>
		<date>07042004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Union Railways (North) Ltd, the client organisation for Section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), has appointed Bob Crease as Commercial Director. The position is in addition to his role as Executive Director of CTRL (UK) Ltd, the owner of Section 1 of the CTRL, where he has been appointed to the Board.

Bob is a fellow of both the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and has more than 32 years experience in major projects and maintenance in the rail industry, principally in permanent way engineering.

Other Board appointments within the CTRL project have also been announced. Ted Allett, CTRL Quality & Environment Director, has joined the Board of Union Railways (North) Ltd, and Kit Kaberry, Head of Finance, has joined the Boards of CTRL (UK) Ltd and Union Railways (North) Ltd as Finance Director.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="21">
		<title><![CDATA[London tunnels - the end of an incredible journey]]></title>
		<date>23042004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Six giant tunnel boring machines used to bore 35km of tunnels under London have successfully completed their journeys in a major step towards the completion of Britain’s first high-speed railway, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL).

At a ceremony at Stratford today transport minister Tony McNulty and Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales joined CTRL managers and guests to mark the completion of an important stage in the project.  Union Railways’ Managing Director Alan Dyke said: “The London tunnels are a major part of CTRL Section 2, and to have completed them on schedule is a tremendous achievement by Rail Link Engineering our project manager, our contractors and of course the tunnelling gangs who have worked round the clock for the last 18 months.”

Tony McNulty said: "This incredible engineering achievement is a strong example of yet another transport success story in London. The tunnels were completed on budget, on time and only 1mm wide of their final target.  Stratford international station is itself a major construction project and I know that London and the nation are eagerly awaiting its completion due to the significant role it will play in any future UK Olympic Games and in East London's regeneration. Once completed, I want the station to stand as a symbol of the modern and efficient transport infrastructure which London can be proud of."

Tunnelling under London began 18 months ago from Stratford when the first tunnel boring machine (TBM), built by Kawasaki and named Annie by local schoolchildren, was launched by contractor Nishimatsu-Cementation Skanska with the ritual breaking of a barrel of Japanese sake to placate ‘’Yamano Kami’ -  the Goddess of the Ground - and to ask her for good luck during tunnelling.  Today’s celebration included a thanksgiving to the goddess.

Their journey has seen Annie and her sister Bertha bore 7.5km of twin tunnels from Stratford to the King’s Cross railway lands just north of St Pancras, passing successfully beneath London Underground’s Highbury and Islington tube station during their passage under Newham, Hackney and Islington. 

Also travelling from Stratford, TBMs Brunel and Hudson, built by Wirth in Germany, have driven 4.7km eastwards under London Underground’s Central Line, the Great Eastern Line and residential areas of Maryland and Forest Gate before breaking through into a ventilation shaft at Barrington Road in Manor Park.

Contractor Costain-Skanska-Bachy Soletanche had to contend with the subsidence of gardens in Maryland, thought to have been caused by the unrecorded presence of disused deep wells, but recovered from the delay to complete their tunnels ahead of schedule.

Finally, the most easterly stretch of the London tunnels has seen contractor Nuttall-Wayss & Freitag-Kier drive TBMs Maysam and Judy, built by Lovat in Canada, 5.3km from Dagenham to Barrington Road beneath the London, Tilbury and Southend (LT&S) line, the District Line and Barking station without causing any disruption to rail services.  

The two shafts at Barrington Road, nicknamed “Barrington Circus” by the tunnel workers, have seen the safe arrival of the four TBMs which together have driven 10km of twin tunnels. One shaft, which will provide permanent ventilation for the CTRL, was the meeting point of Brunel from Stratford and Judy from Dagenham, while a temporary access shaft received Hudson and Maysam.

With the basic tunnelling complete, the contractors will now build the track base and concrete walkways within the tunnels, before handing over to railway-equipment contractors who will install the track, overhead power lines and signalling and communications systems. 

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="22">
		<title><![CDATA[All TBMs lead to Barrington Road]]></title>
		<date>27022004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[One of the two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) building the most easterly stretch of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) between Dagenham and Barrington Road in Newham has  broken through into a temporary access shaft at the Barrington Road site.  

TBM Maysam digging the “up line” tunnel (the tunnel taking trains to London) broke through into the temporary access shaft on the afternoon of 24th February having travelled 5.3km after setting off 18 months ago from the Ripple Lane site at Dagenham. Maysam’s sister TBM, Judy, will complete her journey  into the permanent ventilation shaft at Barrington Road in around three weeks time. 

The Barrington Road shafts, nicknamed ‘Barrington Circus’ by the workers, have also seen the safe arrival of the two TBMs boring 4.7km from Stratford. The temporary access shaft was built to accommodate the arrival of two of the four TBMs converging at Barrington Road.

Maysam is 100 metres long and weighs 720 tonnes, and was built by Lovat Inc. in Canada. She has passed safely beneath the London, Tilbury and Southend (LT&S) lines, the District Line and Barking station without disruption to any rail services during her journey under the London boroughs of Barking & Dagenham and Newham. 

CTRL Contract 250 works comprise the construction of 5.3km twin bore running tunnels (internal diameter 7.15m), a 500m long cut & cover tunnel and retained cut approach at the Ripple Lane portal, and an intermediate ventilation shaft located at the Wayside Commercial Estate alongside the A13 in Barking.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="23">
		<title><![CDATA[Showtime for Annie]]></title>
		<date>27012004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The Channel Tunnel Rail Link’s Annie, one of two tunnel boring machines (TBM) on the longest tunnel drive of its kind in the world, has emerged from the ground on to the King’s Cross Lands north of St Pancras.

Annie broke through at mid-morning today after a 7.5 km journey that began 17 months ago in Stratford, east London and was completed ahead of schedule.

The earth pressure balance tunnelling method minimises settlement but is hard going for the TBM. The 120m long, 1,100 tonne machine, built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, successfully passed under London Underground’s Highbury and Islington tube station without disruption, on its journey under Newham, Hackney and Islington. 

Annie broke through into the open air but future passengers on the Eurostar will not see daylight for another 120 metres. In front of the London west portal is the newly launched and clad CTRL bridge over the East Coast Main Line. Later this year after Annie’s sister Bertha has broken through and both TBMs are removed from the portal, the ‘gap’ between the portal and the bridge will be covered. Future Eurostar passengers will see open air when the train emerges from the 75m bridge. 

Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling, welcomed Annie and said "The CTRL is an excellent example of what can be achieved when the Government works in partnership with industry. This project will speed up journey times for passengers, provide a modern railway station at King’s Cross and St. Pancras and a first class gateway to London. It will also allow huge redevelopment of the area and play a crucial part in ensuring the UK has excellent transport links to support our Olympic bid."

Rob Holden, Chief Executive for London and Continental Railways added "Today's tunnel breakthrough is another significant milestone for the CTRL project and its contractors. With five of the eight tunnels of Section 2 now completed on or ahead of schedule the new railway is a step closer to being delivered on time in 2007."

The Nishimatsu-Cementation Skanska joint venture – the main contractor for CTRL Contract 220 – is working with Rail Link Engineering, CTRL’s project manager and designer, to complete the longest stretch of underground tunnelling for the entire high-speed rail link.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="24">
		<title><![CDATA[Jubilation at Jubilee Centre over CTRL donation]]></title>
		<date>22012004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The Jubilee Centre in Camley Street has received £750 thanks to safe working practices demonstrated by Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) staff at St Pancras. 

The donation by Rail Link Engineering (RLE), CTRL project manager and designer, and contractor CORBER (Costain-O’Rourke, Bachy Soletanche, Emcor Rail) was made in recognition of contractor and RLE staff at St Pancras achieving half a million hours worked without a serious accident. 

Youngsters from the Jubilee Centre abseiled down the canal-side of the building to collect a cheque for £750 from Ian Gedney and Mick Caldwell, representatives from Contract 105 at St Pancras, where construction for the new international terminus for Eurostar trains is underway. 

The Jubilee Centre is a registered charity, set up in 1977, The Queen's Silver Jubilee year, to provide inner city young people with an opportunity to take part in adventurous activity.
It provides the London Borough of Camden with an outdoor education resource which sets up and runs courses and activities for a wide range of client groups, including adults, schools, youth groups, special needs groups and young people at risk. The centre also provides National Governing Board award courses for adults and young people.

The CTRL safety awards are run project-wide and recognise each contract’s achievements in attaining 250,000, 500,000 and 1,000,000-plus man-hours worked without a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reportable incident. Contracts reaching these milestones are given cash awards by the CTRL project to donate to the charity of their choice. The awards are one of many safety initiatives used to get the safety message across to those most at risk - the workforce.

CTRL Contract 105 is the extensive works in the St Pancras area and involves the refurbishment and extension of St Pancras station, which will become the main London terminal for international Eurostar services from 2007. St Pancras International will eventually have 15 platforms, with new double-length platforms for Eurostar trains. New station and passenger facilities will be constructed for Midland Mainline and Thameslink services for future high-speed domestic services to Kent.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="25">
		<title><![CDATA[CTRL East Coast Main Line bridge launched]]></title>
		<date>05012004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[An unusual sight greeted local residents wandering down York Way in London on Christmas Day. A massive steel railway bridge which will eventually carry the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) was being launched over the East Coast Main Line (ECML), at Belle Isle 1km north of King’s Cross station.
 
Around 60 CTRL staff from contractor Kier-Nuttall and project manager Rail Link Engineering were involved, working 12 hour shifts, day and night, through Christmas and Boxing Day on the specialist launching operation. 

The 2065-tonne bridge spanning 75m was pre-assembled on the west side of the ECML and was launched from this position over to the east abutment during a 55-hour shutdown of the railway, starting at midnight on Christmas Eve and finishing early on the morning of 27th December. 

During the launch the bridge was supported on steel skates and pushed out by hydraulic rams, which moved the bridge in 1 metre increments and at a rate of 10m per hour across the East Coast Main Line railway tracks.  

The bridge resembles a giant tube due to the acoustic grey cladding that will shield the local environment from CTRL train noise. The bridge will take Eurostar and CTRL domestic services from St Pancras station over the ECML and into the west portal of the CTRL London tunnel. 

Russell Lang, Kier-Nuttall joint venture project manager said “This major operation was achieved through the hard work of the Contract 103 integrated team and marks another significant milestone on this complicated and challenging project. Our strength is in the quality of the people on site and their committed attitude.”

CTRL Contract 103 is building the civil works in the King’s Cross Lands, on the approaches to the new St Pancras interim station. The contract includes the construction of new bridges and viaducts, the track formation, a major road diversion, site haul roads and the provision of a temporary construction railhead facility for use by other CTRL contracts. It also involves the construction of a permanent new rail-served cement and aggregate transfer plant, plus new tunnels for the Thameslink 2000 Project.

-ends-]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="26">
		<title><![CDATA[EARLIER PRESS RELEASES]]></title>
		<date>01012004</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Press releases issued prior to 2004 can be found in the DOWNLOADS section of this website. To access the DOWNLOADS area, click on the QUICKLINKS button on the Home Page.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="27">
		<title><![CDATA[Royal visit to Stratford International]]></title>
		<date>13102005</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The Queen met Channel Tunnel Rail Link workers at the Stratford International station site on 12th October. The new station will form the centre-piece for future development of the London Olympic Park and regeneration plans for east London. During the visit Rob Holden, Executive Chairman of LCR, explained how the new international station will provide a platform for creating Stratford City – the largest single mixed-use regeneration project ever undertaken in Europe.
For photos of the Royal Visit, click on the IMAGES link above and then click EVENTS.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="28">
		<title><![CDATA[Joint Statement from LDA and LCR]]></title>
		<date>15112005</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The London Development Agency (LDA) and London & Continental Railways Limited (LCR) confirm today that all parties have reached a successful outcome to their negotiations on land issues regarding Stratford City and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The agreement ensures that all the land and infrastructure required for the Olympics on the Stratford City land will be delivered, and that the first phase of the Stratford City development, known as Zone 1, can proceed. It also includes provisions to guarantee that LCR and Stratford City Developments Limited interests are protected and safeguards the requirements of Government, LDA and the Olympic Delivery Authority for delivering the Olympics and the wider regeneration of Lower Lea Valley.

Manny Lewis, Chief Executive Officer of the LDA, said: "This is the right result for the 2012 Games and for Stratford City. This agreement not only safeguards the development of both but protects their integration too. The LDA has always been fully committed to supporting both projects and we now have certainty on the way forward. On all the land assembly issues related to the Olympic Park, we have always said that negotiation is our preferred route and today’s announcement proves that, even when the issues are highly complex, negotiation works and is the best way forward. We will continue this route with all other parties with whom we are in contact on preparing the site for the 2012 Olympics."

Stephen Jordan, Managing Director, London & Continental Stations & Property, said: "We and our partners are relieved and pleased that our commitment to finding a balanced way forward has resulted in such a positive outcome. The Stratford City Development Partnership can now get on and deliver Stratford City with its homes, jobs and shops. This agreement was essential for both a successful Games in 2012 and to ensure the lasting legacy for the people of East London."

Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, said: "This is excellent news which gives us the certainty we need to stick to the timetable and deliver a landmark Games in 2012."

The Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), which will enable the LDA to secure the land needed to regenerate the Lower Lea Valley and to enable the development of the Olympic Park, will be issued imminently. The CPO will not include the interests of LCR and Stratford City Development Limited in Zone 1. The agreement specifically relating to Zone 1 includes provisions to guarantee that infrastructure needed for the Olympics within the Zone will be delivered.

LDA continues its negotiations with all other landowners in the Olympic Park area.

Ends

Contacts

LCR Media Office 020 7391 4369 / 07717 151 070

LDA Press Office 020 7954 4100

Notes to Editors

The London Development Agency

The London Development Agency is the Mayor's agency for business and jobs. The LDA prepares the Mayor's business plan for London and mobilises the support and resources of hundreds of partner organisations to help build a thriving economy for London's people, businesses and communities. The LDA is dedicated to improving sustainability, health and equality of opportunity for Londoners.


Stratford City:

Following the signing of the section 106 agreement, it was also announced by LCR that 40 acres of the 170 acre Stratford site will be released in mid 2006 to allow for an early start for enabling works for the start of Zone 1 of Stratford City. This has been achieved through the successful construction of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link which is on schedule to be ready in 2007. The development partners (SCDL – see below) intend to submit the detailed Zone 1 application for Stratford City to Newham in early 2006. Zone 1 will include up to 1.5 million sq ft of retail space, 400,000 sq ft of leisure space, a hotel, small business/start up commercial space, 500 homes and up to 1 million sq ft of commercial office space. The homes will be delivered by a new partnership specially formed for this purpose by LCR and Stratford City Developments Ltd (SCDL),


London & Continental Railways: 

In 1996, following an international competition, London & Continental Railways Limited (LCR) was selected by the Government to build and operate the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), and to own and operate Eurostar (UK) Limited, the UK arm of the Eurostar train service from London to Paris and Brussels. The CTRL is being constructed under a private-public partnership contract between the UK Government and LCR. Inter-Capital & Regional Rail, a consortium of National Express Group, British Airways and the French and Belgian national railways (SNCF and SNCB), have a management contract with LCR to run the Eurostar train service.

Stratford City Development Limited

SCDL is the development partner consortium of London & Continental Railways and is owned by Stanhope and Duelglide. Duelglide in turn is owned by Westfield, Multiplex and Aldersgate.

ENDS]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="29">
		<title><![CDATA[CPO for Olympic Park land - clarification]]></title>
		<date>17112005</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[London Development Agency issues CPO for Olympic Park land - clarification

The compulsory purchase order issued by the LDA today specifically excludes the interests of London & Continental Railways and its development partners in Zone 1 of Stratford City. 

The well-balanced agreement reached this week ensures that the freehold for the entire Stratford City site is being transferred from the Department of Transport to English Partnerships pending the creation of the Olympic Delivery Authority. 

English Partnerships will hold the land on behalf of Government and in recognition of the beneficial interests of LCR and its partners in the whole site.

Ends.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="31">
		<title><![CDATA[LCR supports updated Olympic Park plans]]></title>
		<date>30012006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Olympic organisers have today announced updated plans for the Olympic Park in east London designed to optimise lay out of facilities and enhance legacy benefits from the Olympic Park project, the centrepiece of the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Stephen Jordan, Managing Director of the Stations and Property Division of London & Continental Railways, lead partner in the Stratford City development partnership, said: “London & Continental Railways and its partners in the Stratford City project have been working very closely with the Interim Olympic Delivery Authority team and we believe that tighter integration between the Olympic Games and Stratford City will work well. 

“As the major facilitator of regeneration in the area, we have been keen to ensure that not only are the London 2012 Games a success but also that the legacy delivers the homes and jobs, as well as the commercial and retail facilities that east London needs. We are confident that the revised plans are a very good positive step forward.”

More information about the updated plans can be obtained at <a href="http://www.london2012.org/en" target="_blank">www.london2012.org/en</a>]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="32">
		<title><![CDATA[Gordon Brown visits Stratford International]]></title>
		<date>31012006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The rapid progress being made on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link was seen first hand by Chancellor Gordon Brown when visited the Stratford International station site in east London today.

The new station is key to future developments in the area including the London Olympic Park and Stratford City, a vital regeneration scheme which will create a new and impressive metropolitan centre for east London.

The Chancellor was met by Lyn Brown, MP for West Ham, Rob Holden, Executive Chairman LCR, Stephen Jordan, Managing Director LCSP and Dave Pointon, Managing Director of Union Railways. Mr Brown also spoke with site staff who are completing the last phases of work for the new station.

Stratford City, with its excellent transport links, will offer a prime opportunity for major regeneration developments that will benefit both local people and east London as a whole.

Stratford International will be used by international and domestic high-speed trains, including the Olympic Javelin service. The station is also near the new Temple Mills Depot under construction which will service Eurostar trains.

For photos of the visit, click on IMAGES above.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="33">
		<title><![CDATA[Stratford City wins prestigious planning award]]></title>
		<date>06022006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Stratford City – a new metropolitan centre for east London – has won the prestigious ‘Award for City and Metropolitan Areas’ at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Annual Awards for Planning Achievement.

Entries were assessed against a wide range of criteria, including: the schemes’ enhancement of the physical environment; social and economic benefits; quality of work; working in partnership with other agencies; application of planning techniques; and the extent to which the individual scheme’s planning process acts as a model for elsewhere.

Overall, the RTPI Judging Panel was impressed by sheer scale of the Stratford City project and the ambition of its vision – to create a new piece of city with homes for 12,000 residents and 30,000 jobs. In particular, the judges praised Stratford City in terms of:

- the development of an affordable housing regime;
- ‘open book’ accounting
- joint working with Newham and three other boroughs, the LDA and GLA and numerous statutory agencies
- the bold decision to have a single outline consent; and
- the resolve the project has consistently shown to confront difficult issues and take the time to arrive at amicable solutions.

The master planning process has been sufficiently robust as to enable closer integration of the Stratford City project and London 2012’s plans for delivering the Games to mutual benefit.

Accepting the award, David Joy, director of planning at London & Continental Railways Stations and Properties division, said: “To have the planning process for Stratford City recognised in this way is a great boost for the project. We have worked hard to find the right solutions and foster greater integration between Stratford City and the Olympics in 2012. Stratford City is proof that the Channel Tunnel Rail Link can be a catalyst for major regeneration and this award is tribute to everyone who works on the scheme.”

Stratford City Zone 1, the major retail and commercial scheme is on schedule to be delivered in 2010.

More information about Stratford City can be accessed on this website via the QUICKLINKS option on the homepage.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="34">
		<title><![CDATA[Thameslink station fit-out gets the go-ahead]]></title>
		<date>08022006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[London & Continental Railways (LCR) today received the go-ahead from the Department for Transport to fit out the new Thameslink station at St Pancras International, ready for passenger services to commence in 2007.

The Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Secretary of State for Transport announced the decision for the £50million fit out on site at the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) construction site at St Pancras. 

Dave Pointon, MD Union Railways said “We warmly welcome today’s announcement by the Department for Transport. Union Railways looks forward to starting the work early this summer. This agreement means we can complete the Thameslink station alongside delivery of the CTRL project, which is on time and within budget.”

The box provides the shell for the new station which will ultimately replace King’s Cross Thameslink station on Pentonville Road. It will accommodate a twin-platform station that will allow passengers direct access to the refurbished St Pancras International as well as King’s Cross.

Cross-London Thameslink services were suspended from September 2004 so that a section of the tunnel used by these trains could be demolished and replaced by the box.
 
Rob Holden, Chairman LCR added “I am delighted that we will be able to add another element to the international and domestic services at St Pancras International and King’s Cross, making this area the most connected transport hub in Europe. This will provide further crucial passenger connectivity and convenience before, during and after the London Olympics in 2012.”

The station will be fitted out with toilets, a ticket office, passenger information services, lighting, utility services, security and safety systems, two lifts, seven escalators and other station facilities.

For computer generated images of how the new station will look, click on IMAGES above. High resolution versions of these images are available for the media – for copies please contact Ben Ruse in the LCR Press Office on 020 7391 4369, or email bruse@lcrhq.co.uk]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="39">
		<title><![CDATA[Backing for major regeneration plans]]></title>
		<date>27032006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The exciting regeneration plans for the area around St Pancras International station were given the backing of the Mayor of London today (27 March 2006).

This follows the decision by Camden Council two weeks ago to approve plans submitted by developer Argent Group for the ‘King’s Cross Central’ scheme. 

Due for completion in 2020, King’s Cross Central will deliver up to 25,000 new jobs, thousands of new homes (including more than 40% affordable housing), 250 new businesses and a host of new community facilities, streets, squares and parks.

Stephen Jordan, Managing Director of London & Continental Railways (LCR), the major land owner at the King's Cross site, said: "This is further good news for an excellent scheme and is another welcome milestone since LCR began working on the plans a decade ago. The scheme itself represents the best possible mix of excellent community benefits, top class design and the preservation of the area's heritage."

King’s Cross Central will conform to high environmental standards such as the inclusion of renewable energy sources and priority zones along the Regent’s Canal to encourage habitation by native plants and animals.

Much thought has gone into ensuring that the area’s rich heritage is successfully interwoven with new buildings and twenty historic structures will be retained or refurbished as part of the scheme.

Manny Lewis, Chief Executive of the London Development Agency said: “Alongside the transport improvements, this development will bring thousands of new homes and jobs to the King’s Cross area, boost tourism and act as a catalyst for business.  This is a unique opportunity to tackle the pockets of deprivation around the station by creating parks, leisure facilities and other amenities, thereby improving the quality of life for existing residents, as well as new ones.

Roger Madelin, Argent Chief Executive said: “Argent and our partners London & Continental Railways and DHL Logistics are delighted with the Mayor’s endorsement for King’s Cross Central.  We will deliver a highly sustainable mixed use development on Europe’s most accessible transport interchange, with a real commitment to renewable energy and carbon reduction.  We look forward to working with the London Development Agency, Transport for London and Camden and Islington Councils to deliver 25,000 new jobs, nearly 2,000 homes, new shops, cultural, leisure and community facilities to transform King’s Cross and benefit the whole of London.”]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="40">
		<title><![CDATA[LCR set to maximise sale value once CTRL complete]]></title>
		<date>06042006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[As noted by the Secretary of State for Transport in his statement to Parliament on 30th March, the Board of London & Continental Railways (“LCR”) welcomes the new basis it has agreed for its future relationship with the Department for Transport.

The Board of LCR instigated a review to ensure that, not only were the Board and Company managing its affairs competently and efficiently, but that its procedures could be seen to be fully compliant with current best practice in corporate governance. 

In addition to the separation of the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive, which had already been implemented by the time of the Secretary of State’s statement, LCR’s other changes in its Corporate Governance will be:

1. The appointment as soon as practicable of additional independent non-executive directors, having a sound track record of public and private service at the highest levels. One of these directors could become Chairman.

2. The enlarged Board will be guided by a new corporate objective focussed on maximising the enterprise value of LCR while minimising the expected drawings on the access charge loan facility and/or other public sector support.  The Group’s performance in relation to this objective and related criteria will be reviewed in its Annual Report.

3. The Board will recommend to LCR’s shareholders a resolution to amend LCR’s Articles of Association to codify compliance with the July 2003 Combined Code on Corporate Governance (and any future revisions of the Code). In particular this will include:

a. A permanent separation of the Chairman and Chief Executive roles;
b. A requirement for a majority of Board members to be non-executives;
c. Amendment of the Board’s quorum rules to provide that a majority of the directors present at meetings of the Board and its committees must be non-executives;
d. Independently constituted and chaired Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees;
e. Re-election of each director at three yearly intervals; and
f. A specified role for the Senior Independent Director.

4.The enlarged Board will review the membership and terms of reference of its Nomination, Remuneration and Audit Committees to ensure that they are linked directly and transparently to LCR&apos;s objectives, including the key new corporate objective.

5.LCR will continue its policy of open competitive procurement of all advisory services in accordance in EU procurement requirements.

LCR will also establish a joint programme of work with Government to:

Review possible restructuring options and implement the preferred programme on a fully transparent basis;
1. Review commercial opportunities to create incremental value;
2. Demonstrate that it is taking appropriate actions that are consistent with the new corporate objective.

The purpose of this joint programme of work will be for LCR to work closely alongside the Government to achieve its objectives, of which the new corporate objective forms a key part, and jointly to prepare the way for and, if appropriate to execute, an orderly realisation of its principal assets and businesses on a sustainable long term basis once these are in a condition likely to maximise investor interest and value. LCR considers that this will significantly enhance value compared to a competitive process for the sale of its shares at this time.

For further information, please contact:

Ben Ruse
Head of Media
London & Continental Railways Ltd
3rd Floor, 183 Eversholt Street
London NW1 1AY
t  020 7391 4369
m  07717 151 070
e  bruse@lcrhq.co.uk]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="42">
		<title><![CDATA[LCR delivers cornerstone of Olympic Transport]]></title>
		<date>20042006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[London & Continental Railways (LCR) today announced the completion of the main construction works at Stratford International station. 

Stratford International station, delivered on time and within budget, represents not only a major milestone for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) project but, in addition, the station is the centrepiece of Olympic transport plans for the London 2012 Games.

The completion ceremony, on site at Stratford International today, includes a visit by the International Olympic Committee&apos;s (IOC) Coordination Commission. The IOC will be retracing some of the steps they took in February 2005 when a delegation travelled in Land Rovers through the CTRL tunnels from Stratford to St Pancras. Today, track has replaced the temporary roadway – there is now a high speed railway line coursing through the station, and through the 18.5km of London Tunnels.

Rob Holden, chief executive of LCR, said: "The Channel Tunnel Rail Link is already an immensely significant project and an outstanding engineering feat. We at LCR are proud, not only of the progress we have made to keep the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project on schedule and within budget but also of our contribution to a successful Games in 2012 and the Games' legacy."

Speaking at the event, Jack Lemley, chairman of the ODA, said: "This is an important achievement by LCR, to date the delivery of perhaps the most significant piece of transport infrastructure needed for the Games. Following the completion of the DLR City Airport extension and capacity improvements on the Jubilee Line, LCR and our transport partners are maintaining an excellent record of delivering on our promises to the IOC."

Dave Pointon, managing director of Union Railways, the company with responsibility for the overall provision of the CTRL, said: "There is no doubt that, back in February 2005, being able to show the IOC the new plans for transport infrastructure was instrumental in winning the Bid. Now, we're already delivering on that promise – Stratford is complete, Ebbsfleet will be delivered in four weeks and St Pancras remains on schedule for completion in 2007."

Stratford International station itself is a 'bridge station' spanning the giant Stratford Box – a trench 1 km long and 25m deep (enough to take three Queen Mary liners). During the Olympic Games in 2012, a new fleet of CTRL domestic high speed 'bullet' trains will provide the 'Olympic Javelin' service, moving up to 25,000 spectators every hour between central London and Stratford. 

High speed domestic services will start using CTRL from 2009 while Eurostar is due to commence international high speed services following its move to St Pancras International in 2007.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="43">
		<title><![CDATA[Channel Tunnel stations beef up security]]></title>
		<date>26042006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[The three new stations for the high speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link are to have their own security staff accredited by British Transport Police under the Railway Safety Accreditation Scheme (RSAS).  Transport Minister Derek Twigg will launch the scheme on Wednesday, 26 April at St Pancras International station.

London & Continental Railways (LCR) is only the second rail company, after Southeastern, to sign up for the scheme in which Accredited Staff and their organisations are thoroughly vetted by the police and trained to standards set down by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

LCR’s stations and property division (LCSP), which runs the stations, has recruited a team of security staff to be based at the new Stratford and Ebbsfleet International stations. The security staff will guard them whilst the final works continue.  When they open, the staff, six supervisors and 20 security officers at each site covering 24 hours a day, seven days a week, will be on hand to look after passengers and rail staff, as well as guard the premises all year round.

The scheme will also be implemented immediately at St Pancras International and will be extended when that station opens for Eurostar high speed international services in 2007.

Rail Minister Derek Twigg said: "The £5.2bn Channel Tunnel Rail Link will be a new section of the rail network, but safety and security for rail passengers remains a real priority, both now and once it is completed.

"This partnership between London & Continental Railways and the British Transport Police demonstrates how the industry can work together to clamp down on crime and anti-social behaviour on the railway, to improve the quality of the journey for passengers." 
 
Stephen Jordan, managing director of LCSP, said:  'The safety of our passengers and staff is paramount. We remain on schedule to complete Britain's first high speed line and the first major new railway in a century. It is an investment we fully intend to protect and these security staff, accredited under the RSAS, will make a significant contribution to that.'

Ian Johnston, Chief Constable of British Transport Police commented:  'This is an important new partnership initiative that complements what BTP and LCR are already doing.  The RSAS is a valuable addition to the wider "policing family" that includes Police Community Support Officers and Special Constables.'

Based on similar Home Office Community Safety Accreditation Schemes, the RSAS allows organisations and their employees involved in railway safety and security to be accredited by the police.  To be accredited staff have to undertake specialist training that is nationally recognised. There is an examination at the end which they must pass.

Staff accredited under the scheme are easily recognized by their distinctive badge.  They have powers to enforce byelaws, issue penalty fare notices and on-the-spot fines (Fixed Penalty Notices for Disorder).]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="44">
		<title><![CDATA[LCR ends period of uncertainty]]></title>
		<date>28042006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[LCR ENDS PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY TO SAFEGUARD STRATFORD PROJECT

London & Continental Railways (LCR) confirms today that it has commenced the procedure to terminate its contract with Stratford City Developments Limited, the company owned by Stanhope, Westfield, Multiplex and Aldersgate.

Termination of this agreement will ensure that progress can be maintained on the delivery of the first phase of Stratford City, known as Zone 1, and the provision of the Stratford City Olympic facilities, including the Village. The shareholders were attempting to resolve structural issues within SCDL via an auction, whereby ownership was to be consolidated.

LCR will continue to lead the Stratford City consultant team, alongside the ODA team, as they complete preparations for the detailed planning applications. LCR has ensured the project has progressed by funding the consultant team (including architects, engineers, planners and surveyors) since the beginning of March. This funding has facilitated the development of detailed work such as the sustainable development plan, the air quality plan as well as revisions to the original planning application for Zone 1 that will be submitted to Newham Council next week.

Stephen Jordan, managing director for property at LCR, said: "It is with sadness and reluctance that we issue this notice. LCR has taken all reasonable steps to try and ensure that SCDL has been afforded every opportunity to resolve its internal issues. 

"This is decisive action required to safeguard Stratford City. We are no longer hopeful that the auction process could be brought to a successful conclusion and it is in the project&apos;s best interests that we now begin the process to terminate the contract. Maintaining timely delivery of Stratford City Zone 1 and essential infrastructure for the London 2012 Games is paramount. We cannot allow the current problems within SCDL to simply run and run. This decision does not jeopardise the provision of Olympic facilities on Stratford City land"

LCR will continue to work with the Olympic Delivery Authority, which remains very supportive. Submission of the revised masterplan for Stratford City is due to go to Newham Council in six weeks and work on Stratford City Zone 1 remains scheduled to begin next year.

Jordan concluded by saying: "I will not apportion blame to any single party, though neither will I absolve any of blame. 

"I would like to offer our thanks for the work of key core team individuals, including consultants, who have worked with us to maintain technical progress. The way is clear to push ahead and deliver Stratford City and its Olympic phases. We will be working with the existing consultants and whoever else we may need to bring on board to deliver such a significant scheme."]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="45">
		<title><![CDATA[DVD Offer]]></title>
		<date>11052006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[A Year in Pictures DVD offer

Dramatic developments made on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2005 are captured in the project’s latest annual DVD ‘CTRL 2005 – A Year in Pictures’.

The programme provides an informative look at what was a truly epic year for the project. It covers many key events and milestones, including the rapid advance of high-speed rail infrastructure towards London, construction of the new international stations at Stratford and Ebbsfleet and the continuing transformation of St Pancras. The hugely successful visit of the International Olympic Committee to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is also featured.

A limited number of the DVDs remain available for £9.99 per copy.

You can purchase copies in person from The Gymnasium visitor centre, 26 Pancras Road, London NW1. The Gymnasium is open Monday to Friday, 08.30-18.30 and on Saturday from 09.00 to Noon (cash or cheque purchases only).

Alternatively, you can purchase copies by post. Please send a cheque (not cash) for the appropriate amount, made payable to ‘LCSP Ltd’, to:

Carole Winter
Visitor Centre Manager
The Gymnasium
26 Pancras Road
London NW1 2TB

Please be sure to include the address that you wish your order sent to.

Programme running time: 18 minutes.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="47">
		<title><![CDATA[Westfield acquires SCDL]]></title>
		<date>12062006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[WESTFIELD ACQUIRES SCDL 

*Stanhope and Aldersgate shares sold to Westfield 
*Stratford City and Olympic facilities remain on schedule 
*Revised masterplan for Zone 1 issued in 2 weeks

London & Continental Railways (LCR) today announced that the Westfield Group has purchased Stratford City Developments Limited (SCDL) outright as the sole shareholder. 

Stanhope PLC and Aldersgate (who had previously acquired Multiplex’s interest) sold their holdings to the Westfield Group.

Stephen Jordan, managing director, LCR Stations and Property division (LCSP), said: “We are pleased that the ownership issues within SCDL have finally been resolved. Our priority has always been the delivery of the Stratford City project and the Olympic facilities that it incorporates.

"This resolution means we can now look to build on the significant technical and planning progress that we have made to date. It is good news for Stratford City, good news for the Olympic Delivery Authority and good news for the people of East London.”

Michael Gutman, managing director Westfield UK, said: “Westfield is pleased that this resolution will allow it to make a positive contribution to the timely delivery of an important element of the Olympic site.

"We look forward to working closely with LCR and the relevant authorities, including the ODA, to develop a high quality metropolitan centre and to participate in developing other facilities at the site.

“Westfield’s primary focus is high quality retail development, but we are involved in a number of mixed use/retail schemes in the UK where we involve other partners who have special expertise in residential development or commercial uses.

“We will be taking a similar approach to the Stratford City project and we will consider, together with LCR, who the best possible partners might be to complement our skills.”

David Higgins, chief executive, Olympic Delivery Authority, said: “The Olympic Delivery Authority welcomes this resolution of the ownership of Stratford City Developments Ltd. This agreement puts another building block in place for the Olympic project, following publication of the masterplan for the Olympic Park last week.”

The Reuben brothers, who own Aldersgate, said: “We wish Westfield every success with the project. We would love to have been the developer but we have stepped aside in the greater interest of a really successful 2012 London Olympic games. On a separate and sad note we would like to pay tribute to the late John Roberts, the creator of Multiplex, and say how much we mourn the loss of a dear friend.”

In paying tribute to the Reuben brothers’ involvement in Stratford City, Westfield said: “We appreciate and acknowledge the contribution of the Reuben brothers facilitating this agreement. We recognise how enthusiastic they have been to make sure the project is on time and they have put the interest of the London Olympics ahead of any other considerations.”

Sir Stuart Lipton, said on behalf of Stanhope: “We enjoyed the trust placed in us by LCR in moving this scheme from a low-density suburban development to a metropolitan centre for east London. We are pleased that the ownership issue is resolved and wish LCR and Westfield well as they take it forward.” 

Progress on the plans for Stratford City and the associated Olympic infrastructure continues to be good - the revisions to the section 73 (residential allocation) in Stratford City Zone 1 have already been submitted and the revised masterplan is expected to go before Newham Planning Committee in two weeks. 

Furthermore, detailed aspects of the masterplan, such as the sustainable development strategy and air quality plans are already complete.

Jordan concluded by saying: “The ownership issues within SCDL are behind us. LCR would like to pay tribute to the Reuben brothers and Stanhope for concluding this deal with Westfield. The consultants working on the project and our in-house team have worked tirelessly to keep the Stratford City project moving forward.

“Now the absolute priority is the actual delivery of the much needed homes, jobs and facilities before, during and after the London 2012 Games that Stratford City provides.” 

ENDS 

For further information, please contact: 
Ben Ruse 
Head of Media 
London & Continental Railways Ltd 
3rd Floor, 183 Eversholt Street 
London NW1 1AY 
t 020 7391 4369 
m 07717 151 070 
e bruse@lcrhq.co.uk 
w www.lcrhq.co.uk]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="48">
		<title><![CDATA[Famous railway engineer to be brought back to life]]></title>
		<date>19062006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[‘A HIGHLY CHARGED THEATRICAL EVENT FILLED WITH DRAMA, ARCHITECTURAL REVELATIONS AND SOME SURPRISES ALONG THE WAY’

One of the Victorian Age’s great railway engineers is to be dramatically ‘brought back to life’ in a specially commissioned play, ‘An Audience with William Barlow (Deceased)’.

The play is a highlight of the London Architecture Biennale Festival. 

It sees William Barlow brought back to life in a TV studio-style interview to discuss what it was like to build the iconic St Pancras station. Through video and other media, Barlow contrasts his work with that now underway to restore the magnificent station as the London terminus of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Barlow is played by David Calder, a Royal Shakespeare Company actor who has also appeared in TV programmes such as ‘Hustle’ and ‘Spooks’. The show has been commissioned by London & Continental Railways.

Tickets £10
Thursday 22nd June and Friday 23rd June 2006 (7.15pm performance)
Venue: The Gymnasium, 26 Pancras Road, London NW1 2TB
To book call 0870 247 1207 (booking fee applies) or book online at <a href="http://www.londonbiennale.org.uk" target="_blank">www.londonbiennale.org.uk</a>
DOOR SALES AVAILABLE

To find out more about this special performance, click on the FEATURES button above.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="49">
		<title><![CDATA[RISK OF DEATH FOR RAIL TRESPASSERS]]></title>
		<date>20062006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[Trespassers on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) site at Ebbsfleet are putting themselves and others at grave risk, rail chiefs and police warned today.

During isolated incidents, trespassers caused criminal damage to equipment during earlier construction of the new high-speed line and although passenger service is not planned until next year, the railway has recently gone "live" to enable testing and commissioning. This means that there are no longer large stores of copper on site and, moreover, the copper that is now part of the rail infrastructure may be energised.

Test trains will be running now, day and night, from the Pepperhill tunnel through to Stratford to test overhead and earthing copper power lines which are now electrically charged at a massive 25,000 volts. This voltage is potentially lethal if interfered with without authorisation.

Dave Pointon, Managing Director, Union Railways, said: "The new railway is securely fenced, but unfortunately a few vandals and thieves had simply regarded that as a challenge during earlier construction.  I cannot stress too strongly the stupidity of trespassing on or interfering with the high-speed line at this later stage.

Trains may not yet be running at full speed but are running at speeds that can kill and the electrification system can be lethal if interfered with.  Even proximity to copper overhead and earthing cables energized at these voltages can result in induction electrocution. For your own sake, stay away from any railway, and particularly a high-speed one.  If you see anyone trespassing onto CTRL, I urge you to call the police immediately or alternatively call the CTRL Helpline on 0845 6040246.“ 

British Transport Police are acting on information, have apprehended trespassers during construction and have officers in position to catch and prosecute any future trespassers.

"If you trespass on the railway, you will end up with a criminal record, worse, you could end up dead" warned Chief Superintendent Willie McCafferty from British Transport Police. “Trespassing on any railway is dangerous, on this high-speed line it is suicidal. Parents and guardians need to ensure that their children understand that, the trauma of having someone killed on the railway can destroy a family. We are working with CTRL to prevent this sort of route crime and, if people are caught, we will press for the severest penalties.”]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="50">
		<title><![CDATA[Political pelaton departs St Pancras]]></title>
		<date>21062006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[POLITICAL PELATON DEPARTS ST PANCRAS – BUT NOT BY TRAIN!

The 2006 All Party Parliamentary Bike Ride set off from St Pancras International station today. The 50 MPs taking part were led by Emily Thornberry MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group and Derek Twigg MP, Transport Minister.
 
The ‘political pelaton’ highlighted the message that commuters who cycle to work stand to gain from improved health and fitness, time and cost savings and a reduction in road traffic pollution. 

The MPs, including former Home Secretary, Charles Clarke MP, followed a route of cycle lanes through central London, terminating in front of the Palace of Westminster. As part of Bike Week, the All Parliamentary Bike Ride aims to highlight the benefits of regularly cycling to work, including:

*Improved health and fitness. Growing levels of inactivity directly increase the likelihood of illnesses such as coronary heart disease, which now kills more than more than 110,000 people in England every year.

*Time and cost savings. The average person spends about nine days a year in a car; cycling is often an affordable, accessible and reliable alternative. 

*Reduction in pollution and congestion. The UK has the worst traffic congestion in Europe and cycling to work can have a real impact on reducing pollution and congestion. 

Emily Thornberry MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group commented: “We have seen today a large number of MPs biking to work and pushing cycling up the political agenda. Cycling is clean, green and fun.”

Derek Twigg MP, Transport Minister, said: “As well as being fun, cycling is good for fitness, good for the pocket and good for the environment.  We want to encourage as many people as possible to use pedal power to travel to work, school and local amenities.  Events such as the All Party Parliamentary Bike Ride help to raise awareness of the many benefits of cycling.” 

Phillip Darnton, Chairman of Cycling England, said: “The benefits of more people cycling to work are enormous – that’s why we want to see the number of people getting to work by bike in England more than double to six per cent by the end of next year. However, for cycling to increase, there needs to be a shift from other modes of transport, principally car journeys. About 40 percent of all car trips are under three miles, a distance which can be easily cycled.”

Stephen Jordan, Managing Director of London & Continental Stations and Property said: “I would like to thank the Parliamentary Cycling Group for choosing to start this year’s bike ride from St. Pancras Station. A unique London landmark which by 2007 will deliver the best performing transport experience in Europe, St. Pancras International is redefining the railway station for the 21st century.”

Cycling England, who support the bike ride, would like to see the number of people cycling to work more than double by the end of 2007. To help achieve this target, it has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the Cycle to Work scheme. Employers can provide bikes to their staff as a tax-free benefit, provided the bikes are used mainly to travel to and from work. At the end of the agreed loan period, employees may then have the opportunity to buy the bike, resulting in an overall saving of up to 40 per cent of the retail price.


Note: click on the IMAGES button above to see photos of the event.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="51">
		<title><![CDATA[OJEU notice seeks delivery partners]]></title>
		<date>27062006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[London & Continental Railways (LCR) placed a tender notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) on Monday 26 June. The notice is the first step towards the appointment of a partner to build the Olympic Village and other commercial and residential elements of the 1.25 million sq m Stratford City scheme, if Stratford City Developments Limited (SCDL) does not participate in their construction.

Westfield, which now owns 100 per cent of SCDL will build the first phase of Stratford City, known as 'Zone One'. Zone One is a predominately retail led development. The other phases (Zones 2 to 6) within the Stratford City scheme will be dominated by residential and commercial elements.

Stephen Jordan, managing director of LCR said: "We are confident that Westfield will drive forward the building of Zone One of Stratford City. Now, together with Westfield, we are looking for companies of similar stature to partner the building of other elements of the scheme." 

Westfield is working with LCR to determine which non-retail elements SCDL will deliver and those which are more suited to delivery in partnership, or with a substitute partner. These elements will then be negotiated with the party or parties selected from the OJEU tender notice.

Jordan concluded by saying: "We want the best possible combination to deliver the best possible scheme."

The Stratford City scheme represents a major new metropolitan centre for East London and the largest single mixed-use urban regeneration project ever undertaken in Europe. The programme for the scheme remains on track with work due to start next year.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="53">
		<title><![CDATA[New platforms open at St Pancras International]]></title>
		<date>17072006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[*Midland Mainline trains move to four new platforms 
*Critical milestone achieved - CTRL remains on target to open autumn 2007
*Public gets first glimpse inside historic Grade-1 listed station 

A critical milestone for the high-speed Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) was achieved today (17 July), when Midland Mainline trains relocated to four new platforms on the west side of St Pancras International station in London.

The new platforms are located in the station&apos;s modern extension. Opening these platforms will enable CTRL engineers to build track for international services all the way into the historic part of the station – the magnificent Barlow train shed.

The station was closed over the weekend of 15-16 July to allow extensive repositioning of tracks leading into St Pancras International and to complete new access routes for passengers. The first public service to depart from the new platforms was the 06:10hrs train to Derby. This followed the earlier arrival, shortly after 05.30hrs, of two empty coaching stock workings.

Dave Pointon, Managing Director of Union Railways, said: "Opening the four new platforms marks a significant milestone for us. It was essential to have these platforms operational by 17 July to ensure the high-speed line remains on schedule to open in the Autumn of 2007. We are delighted to report that the first departure and first arrival were each bang on time!"

He added: "Meeting the target date is thanks to the cooperation between London & Continental Railways, Union Railways, Rail Link Engineering, Midland Mainline, Network Rail and the main construction contractors, CORBER Joint Venture and Mowlem Rail."

Access to the new platforms means that passengers get a first 'inside glimpse' of the carefully restored and re-glazed Barlow train shed roof, soaring more than 100 feet above street level. Over the next two months, new ticket offices and other facilities for Midland Mainline will be completed at the station.

Pointon said: "We would like to thank passengers for their patience during the on-going construction work that is transforming St Pancras International into a world-class station."

The vision for St Pancras International is 'to be a unique London landmark delivering the best performing transport destination experience in Europe through operational and service excellence.' From 2007 St Pancras International, together with neighbouring King's Cross station, will be Europe's largest passenger interchange, with 50 million passengers per year. St Pancras International will have 15 platforms:

- Six for international Eurostar services 
- Three for high-speed domestic services to Kent 
- Four for Midland Mainline services to the East Midlands and Yorkshire 
- Two below-ground platforms for 'Thameslink' cross-London services

For photos of the new platforms, click on the IMAGES button above.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="54">
		<title><![CDATA[Pocahontas remembered at Ebbsfleet International]]></title>
		<date>18072006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[London & Continental Railways (LCR), the company behind the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), today [Thursday 18 July] unveiled a plaque as part of a ceremony to remember Pocahontas, the famous North American Indian who is buried near Gravesend, near Ebbsfleet International station.

The plaque is displayed prominently in the international station’s main concourse with an inscription that reads:

‘In commemoration of Pocahontas (‘The Playful One’) who spent a year in England and arrived in nearby Gravesend in 1617 to set sail for her home in Virginia, North America. She became ill and died in Gravesend aged only 22. She was buried in St George&apos;s church, Gravesend on 21st March 1617.’

The ceremony was led by Stephen Jordan, managing director of LCR, in the presence of several North American Indian Chiefs from Virginia, and Alex King, Kent County Council’s deputy leader. Teachers and pupils from the local St Botolph’s school also attended the event.

Stephen Jordan, speaking at the unveiling said: “When Pocahontas arrived here nearly 400 years ago, Gravesend was our gateway to the rest of the world via the river Thames. Now the region is emerging once again as important international gateway - this time to Europe via Ebbsfleet International. It seems fitting that we should place this plaque in her memory so that future international travellers can reflect on our shared history.”

The visit of the Chiefs was arranged by the Jamestown 2007 British Committee, as America and the United Kingdom prepare to mark the 400th anniversary of the voyage from the Thames to found the first American colony of Jamestown. LCR was a key sponsor of the visit.

The visiting Chiefs were: Chief Anne Richardson (of Rappahannock), Chief Stephen Adkins (of Chickahominy),  Chief Kenneth Branham (of Monacan), Chief Gene Adkins (of Eastern Chickahominy) and Chief Ken Adams (of Upper Mattaponi).

The Ebbsfleet area is set for major regeneration with CTRL at its heart. The construction work at Ebbsfleet International Station is close to completion as the CTRL project continues to progress on time and within budget.

International services are due to start in the autumn of 2007, with high-speed domestic services set to dramatically reduce commuter times from 2009.

For photos of the event, click on the IMAGES button above.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="55">
		<title><![CDATA[LCR and the ODA announce Stratford City shortlist]]></title>
		<date>10082006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[LCR AND THE ODA ANNOUNCE STRATFORD CITY SHORTLIST 

* Three consortia shortlisted for Stratford City work
* Delivery includes Athletes’ Village for 2012 Games
* Start on site remains scheduled for next year 

The Stratford City development in east London took a further significant step forward today, when London & Continental Railways (LCR) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced an impressive shortlist of three bidders competing to deliver major elements of the £4 billion scheme.

The shortlisted candidates are:
 
Bouygues, leading a consortium including Barratt Homes;

Lend Lease, leading a consortium including East Thames Group, First Base and Crosby Homes, and;

Royal Bank of Scotland, leading a consortium including Bellway Homes, Gladedale and Kier.

The shortlist was drawn up following strong bidding through the OJEU process for delivery of the entire Stratford City scheme outside of Zone 1 (the retail-led development to the south of Stratford International to be developed by the Westfield Group). 

This includes the Athletes’ Village for the 2012 Games and the bulk of the scheme&apos;s legacy housing, commercial and hotel development.

Stephen Jordan, LCR managing director, said: 

“The creation of such a competitive shortlist demonstrates the high quality of the companies that responded. Cutting down from the long list was tough. However, after a thorough evaluation process, we believe that we have shortlisted three very credible candidates all of which bring a wealth of experience and resource to deliver this vital regeneration project and its important London 2012 Olympic Games phases.”

David Higgins, ODA chief executive, said:

“Today’s announcement of a shortlist of such capable candidates is good news for east London and for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are working together with our partners at LCR and with SCDL to ensure we remain on schedule to deliver these vital Olympics facilities. Stratford City will be a power for positive change, bringing improved job opportunities, homes and making the most of the greatly improved transport links now under construction.”

The timetable will see:

appointment of the successful bidder in autumn 2006; 
construction to start on site in 2007; and 
completion of the Athletes’ Village in good time for the 2012 Games.

Jones Lang LaSalle is managing the OJEU process for LCR and the ODA. There is also very close working with Stratford City Developments Limited (now wholly-owned by Westfield).

Ends]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="56">
		<title><![CDATA[Completion of ‘ultimate park and ride station’]]></title>
		<date>12092006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[LCR MARKS HIGH-SPEED RAIL MILESTONE WITH COMPLETION OF ‘ULTIMATE PARK AND RIDE’ STATION AT EBBSFLEET

*New international station set to put Ebbsfleet ‘on the map’ as a vital station for Eurostar
*High-speed domestic services means Ebbsfleet is at the heart of a major regeneration project 
*UK’s first multi-billion high-speed rail project remains on time and on budget

London & Continental Railways (LCR) today marks the completion of major construction work at Ebbsfleet International station near Dartford in north Kent. 

The completion of Ebbsfleet International station marks a significant milestone in the delivery of the UK’s multi-billion high speed rail link. This magnificent engineering achievement is linking central London, through Kent and on to the continent via high speed rail for the first time. 

Ebbsfleet International is hugely important – it is strategically located between Dartford and Gravesend and will be ‘the ultimate park and ride’ station.

The new station building is less than five minutes drive from the M25/A2 junction and close to the M2 and A2. However, the station will not be solely focussed on the car with on site connections to the local Fastrack bus service.

The new high speed rail line remains on schedule and on budget to open for Eurostar international services, travelling at speeds of up to 186 mph (300km/h) from autumn 2007 and high speed domestic ‘bullet train’ commuter services travelling at speed of up to 140 mph (230km/h)from 2009.

During the London Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012, Ebbsfleet International will be a major park and rail hub with parking for 6,000 to 9,000 cars.

Rob Holden, CEO, LCR, said: "Today we are pleased to mark the completion of the last totally new station along the new high speed route. The importance of Ebbsfleet International cannot be underestimated. It’s a new hub for high speed domestic and international rail travel and a real catalyst for massive regeneration in the heart of north Kent.

The high speed rail line will transform the geography of Kent, London and Europe – distance measured in length is no longer important. It’s time that really matters. I am immensely proud of all those that have  helped make Ebbsfleet simply a better place to live, work and travel whether that’s into central London to Europe or to the London Olympics.”]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="57">
		<title><![CDATA[Stratford City shortlist now down to two]]></title>
		<date>21092006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[STRATFORD CITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNER BIDDER SHORTLIST NOW DOWN TO TWO

London & Continental Railways (LCR) and the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) today announced that the shortlist of bidders to become a development partner for the £4 billion Stratford City has been reduced from three to two.

The two remaining consortia are:

* Bouygues, in a consortium with Barratt; and
* a Lend Lease-led team including East Thames Group and First Base.

LCR and ODA would like to pay tribute to the high level of commitment shown by the three consortia involved up to this point in the tender process and to commend each for their enthusiastic interest in Stratford City.

The original short-list was drawn up following strong bidding through the OJEU process for delivery of the entire Stratford City scheme outside of Zone 1 (the retail led development to the south of Stratford International station). This includes the Athletes’ Village for the London 2012 Games and the bulk of the scheme's legacy housing, commercial and hotel developments.

The two successful consortia will now go forward to the next stage of detailed negotiation. LCR and ODA will be making a further joint statement to announce the winning bidder within the next two months.

Jones Lang LaSalle is managing the process on behalf of LCR and the ODA, in close partnership with Stratford City Developments Limited (now wholly-owned by Westfield), the developer of Zone 1.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="58">
		<title><![CDATA[No smoking at St Pancras International]]></title>
		<date>21092006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[ST PANCRAS INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS AS FIRST NON-SMOKING STATION

* Smoking to be prohibited in all public, delivery and back-office areas
* St Pancras International aiming to be Europe’s safest and most comfortable ‘destination station’
* St Pancras International on schedule to open for Eurostar services in autumn 2007

High speed rail builders London & Continental Railways (LCR) today announced that when St Pancras International opens, it will be the UK’s first mainline station to voluntarily declare itself entirely non-smoking station.

St Pancras International is currently undergoing major renovation and modernisation in preparation for the switch of Eurostar services from Waterloo to St Pancras International in autumn 2007. High speed domestic commuter services will start using St Pancras International from 2009. During the London Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012, St Pancras International will the starting point for the high speed Olympic ‘Javelin’ service. By 2009, it is expected that as many as 50 million people will be using the station every year, making it one of the UK’s busiest transport hubs.

Mike Luddy, project director, LCR, said: 

“As we reach the final stages of completion of the UK’s first high speed rail project, the vision for St Pancras International is coming to life. This magnificent national landmark will become the best performing station in Europe and a destination in its own right.”

Among the facilities planned for the new station are a world class brasserie and Europe’s longest champagne bar. There will also be a top gastro pub, a casual dining restaurant together with independent boutiques, a fresh food market and a range of convenience outlets.

Luddy continued: “We know that customers and staff at the new station want to feel safe, secure and comfortable. The smoke-free policy at St Pancras International will help make the station a more desirable place to meet, work and use the wide range of facilities available. I have no doubt that St Pancras International, as the first station to offer its customers a smoke free experience will set the trend for many more to follow suit.”

In support of LCR&apos;s decision to prohibit smoking throughout St Pancras International, Ian Willmore, public affairs manager of ASH, the tobacco control pressure, said: 

"We are very pleased that LCR is acting to make St Pancras a smokefree station. It's a gap in the smokefree law due to come into force in Summer 2007 that some major railway stations may not yet be included.

“Workers and members of the public in a busy station have just as much right to be protected from secondhand smoke as anyone else. LCR at St Pancras is leading the way, and we hope very much that other stations will follow this excellent example."

Midland Mainline services are serving parts of the existing St Pancras station during the renovation programme and all public and back-office areas currently in operation will be designated as ‘smoke-free’ from November this year.]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="59">
		<title><![CDATA[St Pancras - Europes Destination Station]]></title>
		<date>14112006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[ST PANCRAS INTERNATIONAL TO OPEN AS ‘EUROPE’S DESTINATION STATION’

- St Pancras International to open on 14 November 2007 
- New station to be fitting new 21st century home for Eurostar
- Channel Tunnel Rail Link named as High Speed 1 

(14 November 2006: London) London & Continental Railways (LCR), builders of High Speed 1 – the UK’s first high speed rail link – today announced that St Pancras International will open on 14 November 2007.

St Pancras International will become the new central London station for Eurostar following the company’s move from Waterloo and is also the terminus for Midland Mainline services, Thameslink as well as London Underground. From 2009 high speed Kent commuter services using High Speed 1.

Originally built in 1868 by eminent railway engineer, Sir William Barlow, St Pancras International is being painstakingly restored with the intention of becoming the finest station in Europe. It will set new standards in terms of customer service and establish a new model for what a railway station should be. 

St Pancras International will have more staff per customer, welcome teams and more information more easily accessed. Signage and wayfinding are also central to the station experience so that customers can move around the station easily. LCR has undertaken unprecedented levels of research and drawn inspiration from best practice examples around the world, including Amsterdam&apos;s Schipol airport and the highly successful Grand Central Station, New York.

Project director, Mike Luddy said: “The restoration of St Pancras is a truly historic project. We are redefining how a station operates. A unique retail mix with new levels of customer service will combine in this most magnificent of settings. St Pancras International will be the place to meet in London.” 

From 2007, LCR estimates that 44 million people will pass through the station. There is 82,000 square feet of retail space available, with sites ranging from a 10,000 sq ft brasserie to 25 sq ft boutiques. The retail offering at the station is divided into five distinct zones:

•	Rendezvous St Pancras: The longest champagne bar in Europe, a world class brasserie, a high quality gastro pub, bars, live music and entertainment 
•	St Pancras Market: High quality daily fresh farmers’ food market 
•	Concourse St Pancras: Commuter-driven high street retail outlets 
•	Arcade St Pancras: Independent boutique shops 
•	Sortie St Pancras: Primary retail units and tax-free offers 
•	Among the partners already confirmed at St Pancras International are: 
•	M&S: Putting food and clothes together again for the first time at any railway station 
•	Boots: Putting its fragrance range back on top, in a brand new concept store
•	Geronimo Inns: Simply the best name in gastro pubs

Luddy continued: “On the 14 November 2007, Eurostar will start using the station for the first time following the company’s move from Waterloo. What those customers and millions of other experience will be the result of groundbreaking research and daring creativity. St Pancras International will be Europe’s ‘Destination Station’ and when the first person says ‘meet me at St Pancras’, without any intention of getting on a train, we’ll know we’ve been successful.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact: 

Ben Ruse
Head of Media
London & Continental Railways ltd
t  020 7391 4369
m  07717 151 070
e  bruse@lcrhq.co.uk

To see the new High Speed 1 logo and some of the latest images of St Pancras International station, click on the IMAGES button above, then click LATEST.

You can also find out more by clicking on <a href="http://www.stpancras.com/" target="_blank">www.stpancras.com/</a>]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="60">
		<title><![CDATA[UK to join high speed rail revolution]]></title>
		<date>14112006</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[-‘CTRL’ now known as ‘High Speed 1’
- UK’s first section of high speed rail still on track to be delivered on time and within budget
- HS1 commercial services to begin on 14 November 2007


(14 November 2006: London) London & Continental Railways (LCR), the company behind the construction of the UK’s first section of high speed railway and owner of Eurostar (UK) Ltd, today announced that the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project will now be known as ‘High Speed 1’.

LCR launched the new ‘HS1’ marque during celebrations today at St Pancras International station to mark the High Speed 1 project being ten years in construction and exactly 365 days from opening.

As HS1 was unveiled, Rob Holden, chief executive of LCR said: “It is unprecedented that a major construction project of this size and scale is on track to be delivered on time and within budget. With such a strong track record of success behind us, and as we approach the final run-in, we have chosen this time to name the new railway line, ‘High Speed 1’. High Speed 1 or HS1 will become the name that passengers and beneficiaries of the line will use to describe the project. CTRL has served us well but as the focus of work on the project shifts to bringing the infrastructure to life, about the time is right for High Speed 1.”

The HS1 logo will appear wherever people interact with the project, for example on roadsigns, on maps and atlases, on signage at the stations, in travel guides and webpages as well as information material associated with the project.

Having been lifted over the river Medway, tunnelled under the Thames, threaded through the M25 and through 18km of tunnelling under London, LCR has conquered the major engineering challenges in the construction of HS1. Construction work for the high speed railway and stations will be complete in summer 2007 including the complete testing and commissioning of track, signals and communication systems. This will be followed with a comprehensive fit-out of the stations and simultaneous programme of training and familiarisation for Eurostar staff and border control authorities. 

Eurostar international passenger services will commence from Eurostar&apos;s new central London home at St Pancras International when the new railway opens for commercial services on 14 November 2007. The high speed line will be completed with a total project cost of £5.8bn, well within the overall budget for the project&apos;s funding established in 1998 of £6.15bn. 

Section 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link was opened on time and on budget by the Prime Minister in September 2003. LCR remains on schedule to complete Section 2 and thus complete the entire project – now known as ‘High Speed 1’ - in 2007. This will meet the schedule laid down in 1998.

For more information, please contact:
Ben Ruse 
Head of Media 
London & Continental Railways ltd 
t  020 7391 4369 
m  07717 151 070 
e  bruse@lcrhq.co.uk

To see the new High Speed 1 logo and some of the latest images of St Pancras International station, click on the IMAGES button above, then click LATEST.

You can also find out more by clicking on <a href="http://www.stpancras.com/" target="_blank">www.stpancras.com/</a>]]></copy>
	</article>
	<article id="61">
		<title><![CDATA[WARNING! OVERHEAD LIVE WIRES]]></title>
		<date>07012007</date>
		<copy><![CDATA[WARNING! OVERHEAD LIVE WIRES

High Speed 1 – previously known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link – is now live. This means the railway is now charged with 25,000 volts of electricity which is extremely dangerous. 

ELECTRIFYING THE RAILWAY
High Speed 1 is nearing completion. On 14 November 2007, the first high speed passenger services will start operating on the railway line. As construction continues, London & Continental Railways (LCR) has installed power cables and ‘switched on’ the railway. 

THE MAIN DANGERS
When LCR starts testing trains on the line from January 2007, the high speed railway becomes an especially dangerous place. The main overhead cables carry up to 25,000 volts, powerful enough to be fatal on contact. LCR is also testing ground and earthing cables and these carry currents measuring up to 11,000 volts and more. Furthermore, LCR will be using test vehicles on the track. These vehicles present a hazard that is potentially highly dangerous.

So, with all t