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Tom Edwards
Transport correspondent, London
Stratford platforms raised to host Javelin trains
Half the platforms at Stratford International station are too low for the high speed trains that will ferry thousands of spectators to the 2012 Olympics.
I've discovered that half of the platforms at Stratford International are not the right height and are being raised to make them suitable for the High Speed (HS1) Javelin trains.
The reason this has happened is the station was originally designed for the lower Eurostar service but, as I've reported before, that service won't stop there during the Games.
This is the international station with no international trains.
However, I am told there is some confidence Eurostar will eventually stop there after the 2012 Olympics.
The platforms' extension is being made out of wood and it is thought the work will cost £1m.
I'm told that it will be paid for by the Olympic Delivery Authority.
As the extensions are built from wood, they can be removed if Eurostar decides to stop there post-Olympics.
All four platforms will be ready for testing for the opening of Stratford Westfield next week and will enable 12 trains an hour during the Olympics.
Southeastern's high speed service already stops at Stratford International from St Pancras International.
During the Games, the service will be rebranded as the "Javelin" service and increase in frequency and use the four platforms.
It will mean spectators can get from central London to Stratford in seven minutes and will be a crucial transport link.
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Comment number 1.
DickyG7th September 2011 - 7:57
The link to this page reads "Platform error for 2012 Javelins" (although the headline is clearer). Is it not slightly disingenuous to call it an "error"? As I understand it the platforms were never designed/built for the Hitachi HS1 trains as Stratford International was designed without knowing London would get the Olympics. This is just a retro-fitting job to make them temporarily compatible.
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Comment number 2.
stephenj7th September 2011 - 9:00
Have I got this right: two types of trains go through the station, but only one type can stop there, and £1 million has to be spent each time we want to change this to the other type?
And the Hitachi HS1 trains were designed and ordered without considering the height of the platforms?
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Comment number 3.
Chris Fribbins7th September 2011 - 9:33
The domestic service (Javelin Highspeed) has to be compatible woth the rest of the Kent network as it also runs on the 'classic' lines. The domestoc and international trains are segregated with 'border controls' on the international platforms - so have to have theoir own platforms anyway. The international platforms have a temporary wooden increase for the olympics only so domestic only until then
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Comment number 4.
Kit Green7th September 2011 - 9:54
You could at least use a photo of a real Javelin train rather than the pre build mock-up.
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Comment number 5.
Michael7th September 2011 - 10:58
No, stephenj, you have not got it right. The stations on HS1 have both domestic and international platforms with both sets the appropriate height for their respective services.
For the Olympics both sets of platforms at Stratford International will be served by domestic trains so the international platforms are being temporarily modified to allow this.
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Comments 5 of 17