OBSERVANT TRAINSPOTTER. Michael Jennings (via Transport Blog) has caught the conjuring tricks in the latest Harry Potter movie, and offered all sorts of thoughts about providing high-speed rail in England. The latest movie shows the hotel in front of London's St. Pancras station, rather than the front of King's Cross (which, to my eye, is not that bad looking, although taking away the post-WWII concourse would help), and access to the Hogwarts Express on No. 9 3/4 apparently is through the supporting wall between Tracks (platforms, over there) 4 and 5 where the two arches join. The Hogwarts Express, by the way, has a Great Western Railway Hall pulling it, which is actually out of the loading gauge for the Great Northern Railway (of England, Rocky's Road had power that wouldn't fit anywhere in England or the rest of Europe.)

Now, about that Stratford station being built southeast of London. Jennings is concerned that it will cut into running times, as fast trains lose a lot of time decelerating and accelerating, as well as dwell time at stations. Granted. But consider what's involved in getting to St. Pancras. I don't recall any massive parking lots nearby, or any expressways with an exit marked St. Pancras-King's Cross. Perhaps the Stratford station serves the same purpose as Route 128 southwest of Boston, New Carrollton north of Baltimore, or Glenview north of Chicago (this last would be more effective with a more frequent Wisconsin service.)