Editing Eurostar (section)

====Regional Eurostar====
{{Main |Regional Eurostar}}

Although the original plan for Regional Eurostar services to destinations north of London was abandoned,<ref name="regionfail" /> the significantly improved journey times available since the opening of [[High Speed 1]] — which is physically connected to both the [[East Coast Main Line]] and the [[North London Line]] (for the [[West Coast Main Line]]) at [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras International]] – and the increased maximum speeds on the West Coast Main Line since the 2000s may make potential Regional Eurostar services more commercially viable. This would be even more likely if proposals are adopted for a new high-speed line from London to the north of Britain.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/about_eurostar/press_release/press_archive_2007/Eurostar_welcomes_greengauge_21.jsp |date= 20 June 2007 |title= Eurostar welcomes greengauge 21's call for high speed 2 |publisher= Eurostar |access-date= 31 December 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101228150716/http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/about_eurostar/press_release/press_archive_2007/Eurostar_welcomes_greengauge_21.jsp |archive-date= 28 December 2010 |url-status= dead}}</ref>
Simon Montague, Eurostar's Director of Communications, commented that: "...International services to the regions are only likely once High Speed 2 is built."<ref name="yorkmonta">{{cite news |url= http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/letters-to-the-editor/Rail-investments-that-will-last.5248147.jp |last= Montague |first= Simon |format= Letter to the Editor |title=Rail investments that will last for 200 years |newspaper= Yorkshire Post |location= Leeds |date=8 May 2009 |access-date=14 May 2009 |archive-date=30 January 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210130014040/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/letters-to-the-editor/rail-investments-that-will-last.5248147.jp |url-status=live }}</ref> However, as of 2014 the current plans for [[High Speed 2]] do not allow for a direct rail link between that new line and High Speed 1, meaning passengers would still be required to change at [[London Euston]] and take some form of transportation to London St Pancras.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hs2-plans-revived-to-connect-london-terminus-of-high-speed-two-with-channel-tunnel-rail-link-10382994.html |title=HS2: Plans revived to connect London terminus of High Speed Two with Channel Tunnel Rail Link |website=The Independent |location= London |date=11 July 2015 |access-date=27 August 2017 |archive-date=3 July 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190703062903/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hs2-plans-revived-to-connect-london-terminus-of-high-speed-two-with-channel-tunnel-rail-link-10382994.html |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Key pieces of infrastructure still belong to LCR via its subsidiary London & Continental Stations and Property, such as the [[Manchester International Depot]], and Eurostar (UK) still owns several track access rights and the rights to paths on both the [[East Coast Main Line]] and the [[West Coast Main Line]].<ref name="orr">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/272.pdf
 |title=Train Access Rights necessary to operate additional passenger services on the East Coast Main Line
 |date=27 January 2006
|publisher=Office of the Rail Regulator
 |access-date=26 April 2009
|url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304040143/https://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/272.pdf
 |archive-date=4 March 2009
}}</ref><ref name="nr">{{cite web | url = http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/NR_EastCoastCapacity2005.pdf | title = Consultation on capacity study for East Coast Main Line | date = 19 December 2005 | publisher = Railways Archive | access-date = 26 April 2009 | archive-date = 4 March 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090304040145/http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/NR_EastCoastCapacity2005.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref>
While no announcement has been made of plans to start Regional Eurostar services, it remains a possibility for the future. In the meantime, the closest equivalent to Regional Eurostar services are same-station connections with [[East Midlands Railway]] and [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]], changing at London St Pancras. The construction of a new concourse at the adjacent [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] improved interchange with London St Pancras and provided [[London North Eastern Railway]], [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Great Northern]], [[Hull Trains]] and [[Grand Central (train operating company)|Grand Central]] services with easier connections to Eurostar.