How London St. Pancras Highspeed manages critical infrastructure, enabling fast, low-carbon travel to Europe
On a mission to make travel to Europe easier and more sustainable, London St. Pancras Highspeed operates the UK’s only high-speed railway, with trains reaching speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour on parts of the route. The 109-kilometer route from London to the Channel Tunnel connects London with Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Kent, and the high-speed line gets people to where they need to be quickly and comfortably. Richard Thorp, Chief Operating Officer, provides more insight into London St. Pancras Highspeed’s operations.
“Earlier this year, we rebranded from High Speed 1 Ltd to London St. Pancras Highspeed,” he begins. “As a company, we own the concession to operate, maintain
and renew the UK’s only operational high-speed railway, which connects St. Pancras International Station to the Channel Tunnel. Along this route, there are four stations: St. Pancras International, Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International, and a small section of Ashford in Kent that provides the vital international connection.
“Our 30-year concession began in 2010 and runs through to 2040, but going back further in history, our railway at St. Pancras International was completed in 2007 and has since been successfully operating both high-speed domestic and international rail services. Recently, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) completed our annual review, and our railway and asset performance has been rated as exceptional. This is a major piece of UK infrastructure which we are incredibly proud of, and we are committed to maintaining to the highest standards,” Richard emphasizes.
Maintaining or even exceeding the current levels of performance remains a top priority for London St. Pancras Highspeed and requires significant investment in infrastructure renewal. “Like most railways in the country, we operate a regulated asset, and the ORR reviews our plans every five years to determine whether they provide good value for money for our customers. Since April, we have been in our fourth control period (CP4), during which the ORR approved our renewal plans to invest about £300 million in the asset to maintain our high level of performance. This investment spans several asset groups. For example, about a third of the funding is allocated to a ballast renewal program scheduled to begin in 2028. Additionally, our renewals portfolio includes numerous mechanical and electrical assets, including the equipment that controls the 30 kilometers of tunnel along the railway.
“Our portfolio also covers a broad range of renewals addressing wear and tear accumulated over the years. This includes track assets, switches and crossings, lineside fencing, and various civil assets. Network Rail High Speed, the contractor responsible for operations, maintenance, and renewals, manages these works on our behalf. Stations require ongoing maintenance as well, particularly for critical mechanical and electrical systems such as lifts and escalators, to ensure safe and continuous operation. In terms of efficiency, our control period cost plans submitted as part of the CP4 determination resulted in a 20 percent reduction in railway costs and a 30 percent reduction at our stations. This is a great outcome for our customers that reflects the high quality of asset management work we deliver,” Richard continues.
London St. Pancras Highspeed is also allocating £4 million towards research and development (R&D) for asset renewal and monitoring technologies. Richard highlights the types of innovations that will be trialed as part of this initiative. “We view the funding approved by the ORR as a vote of confidence in our achievements in R&D and innovation. While the wider Network Rail portfolio encompasses about £110 million for innovation, our £4 million may seem modest, but it is a phenomenally important contribution, and we must maximize its potential. We have identified five focus areas for innovation: automated inspection, predictive maintenance, optimized planning data, digital data and technology, and advanced asset management. Our goal is to drive long-term cost savings, safety improvements, sustainability, and enhanced passenger experience.
“Furthermore, we aim to develop high-readiness solutions; for example, we have worked on dynamic overhead line monitoring and other innovations that leverage AI for planning. Some technologies are easy to get excited about, and most perform as expected. However, transitioning them from trial and R&D phases into a business-as-usual setting, where they deliver tangible savings, has proven challenging. We therefore encourage our technology partners to consider not only the product, but also the necessary people and process changes that accompany R&D. We seek products that come with an implementation plan, and we look for those that meet a technology readiness level (TRL) of seven or higher,” he explains.
Beyond innovation, London St. Pancras Highspeed is dedicated to embracing sustainability by reducing its carbon footprint, a mission that is very close to Richard’s heart. “About five years ago, I introduced our first sustainability strategy for the railway and our operations, encompassing two key elements. First, we are already a green asset, as travelling by high-speed rail is an incredibly low-carbon way to move around the UK and into Europe. By running our services, we reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 750,000 tons annually. As we expand our services and encourage a modal shift to rail, the environmental benefits only continue to grow.
“Second, we are making our operations cleaner and more sustainable. Operating trains requires substantial energy, so we are investing heavily to become carbon neutral in our energy use by 2030. Currently, over 40 percent of our energy comes from renewable sources through power purchase agreements, and we are continually exploring ways to increase this share to power more of our trains with clean energy.
“In recent years, we have introduced regenerative braking on our Southeastern fleet, which has delivered considerable energy savings, and we are now planning to implement the same technology on our international trains. Beyond energy efficiency, we manage 235 hectares of natural land along our route, creating a valuable green corridor that supports biodiversity. We are actively monitoring this land and working to achieve biodiversity net gain, with exciting discoveries such as rare orchids growing on our property,” he elaborates.
Active within the community, London St. Pancras Highspeed is particularly supportive of the local art scene. The urban renewal that was catalyzed by the reinvigoration of St. Pancras has been significant and the station remains dedicated to maintaining its position as a cultural hub. “Beyond high-speed travel, St. Pancras station is often recognized for the iconic Tracy Emin artwork featuring the phrase ‘I want my time with you’ in pink neon lettering at the end of the train shed. Another beloved feature is the pianos scattered throughout the station, which are often played by talented musicians like Jools Holland, Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, and even Jeff Goldblum. Recently, we unveiled a new piano in the arcade. We are also strongly associated with poetry, running poetry workshops and collaborating with local schools to spark interest in poetry and the arts. Our goal is to create a welcoming community space in addition to serving as a hub for business and travel,” Richard concludes.