Latest news with #LondonSt.PancrasHighspeed
West Australian
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Delta Goodrem: Aussie singer surprises commuters at London station with piano performance
Aussie songstress Delta Goodrem has surprised commuters at London's St Pancras International Station with an impromptu performance on Wednesday. Jumping on the piano — which was gifted to the station by English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber in late 2024 — the 40-year-old treated onlookers to several hits from her second album Mistaken Identity as she celebrated the project's 20th anniversary. The album symbolised the star's triumphant re-emergence following a battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at just 18. Having clearly lost none of her powerful vocal range, the girl who was 'born to try' painted smiles on the faces of travellers as the echoing of classics Wings, Predictable, Hearts on the Run, and other hits rang out through the cavernous concourse. 'This is the most magical place,' Goodrem reportedly told fans between songs. 'Every piano tells a story—and this one's seen some legends. I'm honoured to share a few songs with you while I'm here in the UK.' With Sir Elton John first gifting a Yamaha piano to the station in 2016, the transient landmark has become a hub for talented stars to ply their craft — including Alicia Keys, Nora Jones, Jeff Goldblum, John Legend, and Sir Rod Stewart. Peter Martin-Jones, Head of Marketing at London St. Pancras Highspeed, said the Aussie's performance would serve to continue the legacy. 'We're thrilled to have welcomed Delta Goodrem to St. Pancras International for this special performance,' Mr Martin-Jones said. 'Our public pianos have become a stage for extraordinary talent and unforgettable moments, and Delta's visit was no exception. It's moments like these that make St. Pancras a unique cultural hub for London, bringing music and joy to all who pass through.' Dressed in a black leather jacket and pants to contrast with her white heels, some fans may have clocked Goodrem's imposing diamond ring worn since her engagement to Aussie guitarist Matthew Copley in 2023. However, the talent was not seen complimenting it with the diamond band that she had reportedly rocked during her two sold-out Hackney Empire shows in London earlier this month, which prompted speculation the couple had wedded in secret.
Perth Now
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Delta shocks commuters with train station piano concert
Aussie songstress Delta Goodrem has surprised commuters at London's St Pancras International Station with an impromptu performance on Wednesday. Jumping on the piano — which was gifted to the station by English composer Andrew Lloyd Webber in late 2024 — the 40-year-old treated onlookers to several hits from her second album Mistaken Identity as she celebrated the project's 20th anniversary. The album symbolised the star's triumphant re-emergence following a battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at just 18. Having clearly lost none of her powerful vocal range, the girl who was 'born to try' painted smiles on the faces of travellers as the echoing of classics Wings, Predictable, Hearts on the Run, and other hits rang out through the cavernous concourse. Delta Goodrem performs at St Pancras International Station on May 28, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by) Credit: Jeff Spicer /'This is the most magical place,' Goodrem reportedly told fans between songs. 'Every piano tells a story—and this one's seen some legends. I'm honoured to share a few songs with you while I'm here in the UK.' With Sir Elton John first gifting a Yamaha piano to the station in 2016, the transient landmark has become a hub for talented stars to ply their craft — including Alicia Keys, Nora Jones, Jeff Goldblum, John Legend, and Sir Rod Stewart. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Peter Martin-Jones, Head of Marketing at London St. Pancras Highspeed, said the Aussie's performance would serve to continue the legacy. Delta Goodrem performs at St Pancras International Station on May 28, 2025 in London, England. Credit: Jeff Spicer /'We're thrilled to have welcomed Delta Goodrem to St. Pancras International for this special performance,' Mr Martin-Jones said. 'Our public pianos have become a stage for extraordinary talent and unforgettable moments, and Delta's visit was no exception. It's moments like these that make St. Pancras a unique cultural hub for London, bringing music and joy to all who pass through.' Dressed in a black leather jacket and pants to contrast with her white heels, some fans may have clocked Goodrem's imposing diamond ring worn since her engagement to Aussie guitarist Matthew Copley in 2023. However, the talent was not seen complimenting it with the diamond band that she had reportedly rocked during her two sold-out Hackney Empire shows in London earlier this month, which prompted speculation the couple had wedded in secret.
Euronews
24-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
London to Europe by train: New expanded routes could bring wallet and pet-friendly travel
You could soon be able to travel by direct train from London to cities like Frankfurt and Zurich. International high-speed rail travel from Britain to the rest of Europe is on track to become faster, more affordable, and more convenient by 2030. London St. Pancras Highspeed (formerly HS1) has agreed to work with Eurotunnel on a strategic partnership to boost high-speed rail connectivity between the UK and Europe. The plan hopes to incentivise more train operators to develop new routes to and from the British capital, reducing journey times and improving timetable coordination. New train operators brought on to rival Eurostar could even mean international rail passengers can bring their pets on board, something that isn't currently permitted. A giant boost for 'rail-first' travel in Europe London St. Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel have announced a partnership that they call a 'pivotal step' in speeding up the growth of high-speed rail on both sides of the English Channel. Eurostar, which celebrated its 30-year anniversary in 2024, currently holds a monopoly on trains that run through the Channel Tunnel. Operated by Eurotunnel, the Channel Tunnel is the world's longest undersea tunnel. It allows millions of passengers and freight vehicles to travel between the UK and France each year. The aim is 'to make rail travel the preferred transport option to the continent,' according to a statement announcing the partnership. Both parties have said they will 'actively collaborate' with governments on the environmental benefits of rail journeys under six hours. The news follows a new study showing that St. Pancras has 'untapped potential' and could increase existing international passenger capacity from 1,800 by up to nearly 5,000 people per hour. London St. Pancras Highspeed is currently the UK's only international high-speed rail line. It directly connects London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam and offers some seasonal ski services to the French Alps. This plan could allow access to new train routes between London and major European cities such as Frankfurt, Zurich, and even Milan. 'Joining forces with Eurotunnel is another exciting step on our journey to realise a future where high-speed rail is the preferred option for travelling to Europe,' says Robert Sinclair, CEO of London St. Pancras Highspeed. Sinclair adds that the two companies, as key infrastructure managers, can unlock the potential of a 'fully connected Europe.' Infrastructure is one part, but train operators also need to get on board High-speed train travel between the UK and Europe reduces annual emissions equivalent to 60,000 short-haul flights (pr 750,000 tonnes of CO2) each year, according to research published by London St. Pancras Highspeed. 'We are keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon mobility with a range of new destinations in Germany, Switzerland and France,' adds Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink, the company behind Eurotunnel. However, Mark Smith, a former rail industry worker who runs the popular train travel guide website Man in Seat 61, explains that this is only the first step in improving international train services. 'We have to remember that these aren't plans by a train operator to actually run trains. They are suggestions from infrastructure owners about what trains a future unspecified operator may or may not care to run. There's a big difference!' says Smith. Smith says that Getlink and HS1 have 'capacity to spare', which is why they are 'preparing the ground' and 'simplifying processes' to encourage new operators to compete with Eurostar on its existing routes. He adds that rail-on-rail competition is often more effective at 'keeping the lid on prices' than competing with other transport modes. Which new European train routes could connect with London? Several operators are seeking to capitalise on the station's planned expansion, including the Virgin Group, and new Spanish operator Evolyn, which was set up by investors in the UK coach company National Express. Smith says both operators are 'credible contenders' that 'are most likely to be interested in the airline-competitive routes between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.' These journeys are in the two to four-hour range. He also says that a London-Cologne-Frankfurt route is a 'realistic possibility'. But it's dependent on whether 'secure platforms and suitable terminal space can be found in Cologne and Frankfurt'. 'We're talking 2029 or, more likely, 2030 at the earliest.' A Eurotunnel spokesperson told Euronews Travel that 'customer demand for new destinations is clear and real'. They shared market research the company carried out that shows Brits are actively seeking travel by train to Germany (Köln, Frankfurt), Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich), and the South of France (Marseille, Bordeaux). Other possible proposed routes, such as London to Geneva or Milan, says Smith, would likely be ruled out for commercial and operational reasons, even if passenger demand exists. Looking ahead to the future, he believes that a new operator to rival Eurostar could bring a new dawn in 'simpler and more easily-booked arrangements for cyclists' and 'allow pets [to travel] under the PETS travel scheme', which Eurostar doesn't currently allow.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
St Pancras plans for direct trains from UK to Germany
New direct train routes from London to Germany, Switzerland and France could open as part of plans to boost passenger numbers at St Pancras station. London St. Pancras Highspeed, which owns the station and operates the track to the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, has already set out proposals to increase capacity for international train travel from 1,800 passengers per hour to almost 5,000. It now wants to attract different train operators to offer a range of services in Europe. Eurostar currently holds a monopoly on the trains through the Channel Tunnel with routes to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink have signed an agreement that will help them to commit to expanding rail connectivity between the UK and Europe. "Many European cities could be reached directly by train in under six hours which we believe is really competitive with short-haul air travel," said a spokesperson for London St. Pancras High Speed. Yann Leriche, chief executive of Getlink, which owns Eurotunnel, said: "We are keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon mobility with a range of new destinations in Germany, Switzerland and France." London St. Pancras High Speed believes it is possible for train services to Bordeaux, Cologne, Frankfurt, Geneva, Marseille and Zurich to be created. No set timeline has been revealed as yet. Eurostar dropped services between London and Disneyland Paris in June 2023, and no longer has routes between London and the south of France. Virgin Group and Evolyn are two companies developing plans for rivals services to Eurostar that could take passengers to the newly proposed destinations. London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink have signed an agreement that will help them to commit to expanding rail connectivity between the UK and Europe. Robert Sinclair, chief executive at London St. Pancras Highspeed, said demand for international train travel is growing. He said his company would work with Getlink "to encourage new and existing train operators to expand capacity and launch new destinations unlocking the potential of a fully connected Europe".
