Budget 2026: Green light for international trains to stop at second major London station

The Chancellor has given the go-ahead for Lord Sadiq Khan’s plan for international trains to stop at Stratford in east London.John Healey backed the London Mayor’s proposal for a Business Rate Retention Zone to upgrade Stratford International Station, and allow trains to and from France to stop there.Following the anouncement, Lord Khan said the Chancellor’s green light would open up “huge opportunities” for the city.Chancellor John Healey signed-off on the investment scheme for Stratford InternationalPA WireHe added: “After lobbying on the issue for many years, I’m delighted that the Government will help us to bring cross-channel rail services to Stratford International – making this station truly international for the first time.” The Mayor had previously said that City Hall number crunching had calculated that bringing international services to Stratford could bring in an additional £1.3b billion in tourist spending for the UK.City Hall has estimated that it could cost £20 million to bring the station and its mothballed platforms into use for international trains.One in three trains to and from France may stop in future at Stratford International under the proposals put forward by London’s mayor.Read MoreThe aim is to have Paris, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam services arriving in east London.Operators are also considering other destinations in Germany and Switzerland.The money generated through the agreed zone is expected to be used to overcome key obstacles to international services stopping at Stratford, including funding, station upgrades, as well as customs and border arrangements.The international station concourse in StratfordLSThe station, located close to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, opened in 2009 and was originally built with the intention of handling cross-Channel Eurostar trains, an ambition that has yet to be realised.An east London alight for passengers on international trains has so far not happened as prospective operators faced having to shoulder the entire associated investment risk.Eurostar has so far declined to have two stops in the capital.But Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin is considering the option of a rail stop in the east of the city under its proposals to run international services to the UK.The rail company will also explore whether its trains should stop at Ebbsfleet and Ashford in Kent.As it seeks to take on rival Eurostar, Virgin has been given track access for new services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam in 2030.Rail regulator the Office of Rail and Road has granted the approval for Sir Richard’s firm that means it will be able to run up to 20 new daily return services through the Channel Tunnel.