If you’ve ever taken the Eurostar from London to Paris or Brussels, you’ve likely passed through the striking red-brick arches of St Pancras International. With its soaring iron roof and elegant Victorian details, the station is as much a landmark as it is a transport hub. But even this grand terminal is starting to feel the pressure of modern demand.
To meet the surge in international rail travel, Eurostar and London St Pancras Highspeed (formerly known as HS1) have launched a bold new project to double the capacity of St Pancras International. According to projections commissioned by the station’s operator, annual passenger numbers could jump from 11 million today to a staggering 35 million by 2040.
This growth isn't just theoretical. Eurostar has already announced new routes to Geneva and Frankfurt, and other operators are eyeing the cross-Channel market. With international train travel gaining popularity—especially among eco-conscious passengers—London’s rail infrastructure is under increasing strain.
Back in 2007, the station underwent a sweeping £800 million renovation, transforming it into Eurostar’s UK home. But with Brexit reshaping border controls and a post-pandemic revival in rail travel, it’s time once again to rethink the station's role.
For frequent travelers like Christopher, a young solicitor commuting monthly to Brussels for EU business, these challenges are all too familiar. “I’d rather sit on a train for an extra hour than stand in a border queue for two,” he says. “But lately, even that choice is becoming difficult.”
To tackle these pressures, London St Pancras Highspeed has enlisted leading architecture practice Hawkins\Brown to lead a feasibility and concept design study. Their mission: to reconfigure the ground floor international departures area for better flow and higher capacity—all without expanding the station’s footprint.
The project is now entering RIBA Stage 2, with a target to deliver the full feasibility report by the end of 2025. Engineering consultancy Ramboll is providing a wide range of services, from structural and MEP design to sustainability and border control consultancy. The team includes Momentum Transport, Gardiner & Theobald, Montagu Evans, OFR, and contractor Willmott Dixon.
The plan is divided into three phases. In the short term, adjustments will focus on optimizing security and passport control to increase throughput by 2,700 passengers per hour within three to four years. These might seem like minor tweaks—but for travelers, they could mean the difference between a smooth trip and a missed train.
The second phase, due by 2028, will improve the flow between the international zone and the station’s main concourse. The final phase, planned for the 2030s, may involve relocating arrivals to an upper level to free up space and reduce congestion.
According to Richard Thorp, Chief Operating Officer at London St Pancras Highspeed, “With growing demand for international train travel, it’s essential we future-proof St Pancras. We’re excited to begin this next chapter of connectivity between London and Europe.”
Andrew Davies, partner at Hawkins\Brown, echoes this sentiment: “Our goal is to unlock the full potential of this constrained site while delivering a welcoming space for millions of passengers. And we want to do it all with minimal disruption to daily operations.”
This initiative taps into a broader shift in how people choose to travel. Rail is increasingly viewed as a more sustainable and relaxed alternative to short-haul flights. For people like Hanna, a climate consultant based in Berlin, trains are a no-brainer: “I’d much rather take the train to visit my family in London—it’s better for the planet and far less stressful than flying.”
As Eurostar gears up to expand its destination map and new players prepare to enter the market, St Pancras International is poised to become even more critical. From a 19th-century station serving coal and carriages, to a 21st-century gateway to Europe, St Pancras is ready to evolve once again.
And for the millions of passengers dreaming of a smooth, stylish, and sustainable journey across the Channel, this transformation couldn’t come soon enough.