UK-France rail link opens to public
The newly-renovated St Pancras International station in London has been opened to the public today.
Eurostar's new high-speed rail link is departing the revamped facility this morning, allowing people to reach France in just two hours and 15 minutes.
This is 20 minutes faster than previous rail links and represents a significant improvement to the accessibility of the country from the UK.
Furthermore, it will allow Eurostar to compete more effectively with airlines, thereby offering a wider range of travel options to business and leisure travellers.
Tom Harris, rail minister, told BBC News: "We're giving people who want to make those journeys a proper choice so they're not forced to travel by plane."
According to currency specialist HiFX, the introduction of the new rail link has helped boost interest in the French property market among Britons.
The firm recently reported that the number of enquiries it received about buying in France rose by 17% between August and September.
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