Phil Sutters' photos with the keyword: Station

The curved roof on the left of this view covers what were the original Eurostar platforms. When the Channel Tunnel rail link first opened, in 1994, the line north of Ashford, in Kent, was not complete and trains were diverted off the high speed HS1 line on to conventional lines to complete their journeys to London. A site alongside Waterloo station was found, on which to build an international secure station. Since 2007 the Eurostar service now runs to its terminus at St. Pancras Station in the north of central London.

As Portsmouth Harbour station must be at least 50 miles from the nearest overhead line, I imagine the train carries out other inspection work as well. For those not familiar with the power supply systems in the UK, electric trains and locomotives in the south of England pick up their supply from a third rail that runs alongside the track. Elsewhere overhead wires are used, on most electrified mainline routes. Metro and light-rail routes sometimes use three or four rail systems. Portsmouth Harbour is about 20 yards beyond this locomotive, which is why this photo is in the UK Coastline and Beaches group.

Photo by Sam Sutters

Photo by Sam Sutters