Editing High Speed 1 (section)

=== Section 1 ===
''Section 1'' of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, opened on 28 September 2003, is a {{convert|74|km|mi|adj=on|abbr=in}} section of high-speed track from the Channel Tunnel to Fawkham Junction in north [[Kent]] with a maximum speed of {{convert|300|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=10}}. Its completion cut the London–Paris journey time by around 21{{nbsp}}minutes, to 2{{nbsp}}hours 35{{nbsp}}minutes. The line includes the [[Medway Viaduct]], a {{convert|1.2|km|mi|abbr=in|adj=on}} bridge over the [[River Medway]],<ref name=":0" /> and the [[North Downs Tunnel]], a {{convert|3.2|km|mi|abbr=in|adj=on}} long, {{convert|12|m|abbr=in|adj=on}} diameter [[tunnel]].<ref name=":1" /> In safety testing on the section prior to opening, a new UK [[land speed record for railed vehicles|rail speed record]] of {{convert|334.7|km/h|0|abbr=on}} was set.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eriksrailnews.com/archive/eurostar_ctrl_pr.html |access-date=12 April 2007 |title=Eurostar breaks high speed record |publisher=Erik's Rail News |date=30 July 2003 |archive-date=13 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013043541/http://eriksrailnews.com/archive/eurostar_ctrl_pr.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Much of the new line runs alongside the [[M2 motorway (Great Britain)|M2]] and [[M20 motorway|M20]] motorways through Kent. After its completion, Eurostar trains continued to use suburban lines to enter London, arriving at Waterloo International.

Unlike most [[Lignes à Grande Vitesse|LGV]] stations in France, the through tracks for [[Ashford International railway station|Ashford International station]] are off to one side rather than going through, partly because the station pre-dates the line.<ref name="eurostar.com">{{cite press release | url = http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/about_eurostar/press_release/press_archive_2006/09_01_06_Eurostar_celebrates_10_years.jsp | publisher = Eurostar | title = Eurostar celebrates 10&nbsp;years at Ashford International | date = 9 January 2006 | access-date = 6 February 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120522090109/http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/about_eurostar/press_release/press_archive_2006/09_01_06_Eurostar_celebrates_10_years.jsp | archive-date = 22 May 2012 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref> High Speed 1 approaches Ashford International from the north in a cut-and-cover "box"; the southbound line rises out of this cutting and crosses over the main tracks to enter the station. The main tracks then rise out of the cutting and over a flyover. On leaving Ashford, southbound Eurostars return to the high-speed line by travelling under this flyover and joining from the outside.<ref name=":2" /> The international platforms at Ashford are supplied with both overhead 25{{nbsp}}kV{{nbsp}}[[alternating current|AC]] and third-rail 750{{nbsp}}V{{nbsp}}[[direct current|DC]] power, avoiding the need to switch power supplies. Within Ashford, the speed limit on High Speed 1 is {{convert|270|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=10}}.