A cathedral of the steam age being restored to glory

On time, and within budget, one of the greatest monuments to the ambition of the Victorian railways is being restored to its full glory. And, when it is complete, Eurostar trains will be able to travel through southern England at the same high speeds they reach on the continent. It is possible that the rest of the world, reading of the soaring cost of the London Olympics and the interminable delays to the opening of Wembley stadium, thinks Britain doesn't have much of a knack these days for grands projets -- the great engineering triumphs about which the French are so keen to boast. Happily, a walk around the interior of St Pancras station, where 2,000 hard hats are preparing for the start of Eurostar services this November, suggests otherwise. Here, under the great arch of the Victorian engine shed, is where we finally get to join the network of high speed rail lines that Europe has enjoyed for decades.

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