Passengers and staff on the last trains into Waterloo spoke of tearful farewells and a sense of history.

Cindy Porter, 34, from Watford, a human resources officer, arrived on the final train from Paris with five-year-old daughter Olivia. She said: "It's a bit of history, something to tell Olivia when she's older. Everyone was taking pictures."

Italian Elena Gaetini, 34, who works in the Paris stock exchange, was on the last train into Waterloo and is travelling out from St Pancras today. She said: "It's been a great experience. I love trains and really wanted to be on these historic services. I am looking forward to using St Pancras - it is very innovative."

Pippa Murray, 45, and Greg Steele, 48, from Quebec, were returning from a romantic break in Paris. Miss Murray said: "It's my birthday and I wanted to show Greg London and Paris. Taking the ferry or flying was always an ordeal - but this was great. They gave us all free champagne which rounded the trip off beautifully."

Leyli Miftakhova, 27, who works for the Russian government, is on holiday in London and took a day trip to Paris. She said: "It's the beginning of an era and it was nice to be a part of it."

Dominic Kini, 38, a banker from Wapping, had been in Paris visiting an aunt. He said: "It was nice to be on the last train. I really like Waterloo, but it's about time we built a high-speed link."

Eurostar steward Franck Mboko, 29, from Catford, was on the last train from Brussels, which arrived a few minutes before the Paris service.

He said: "There was a real sense of history. There were a few tearful farewells because a lot of staff who live in the South are leaving the company. I had a glass of champagne in the bar and all the staff were given a bottle of champage as a memento.

"The atmosphere was wonderful because there were so many people in the bar."

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