Arsenal's Emirates Stadium was the setting for a novel form of assessment for would-be customer care staff with High Speed 1 (previously known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link). These centres formed part of learning consultancy Echelon's on-going selection of, and support for, these staff.

The selection process began in May 2007 for staff who would work at the refurbished St Pancras International and new station Ebbsfleet International, although the service was not due to come into operation on the new section of track from Fawkham Junction, in Kent, to St Pancras, until 14th November 2007. Candidates for the role of Customer Service Officer were invited to first access details from several websites where the job that involves providing excellent service for this new concept retail and transport experience was described.

Under the contract with High Speed 1, Echelon ran a series of assessment centres – that took place at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in north London.

Each candidate selected for interview participated in a number of assessment activities including role play scenes, involving professional actors.

"In order to be a successful customer care officer with High Speed 1, you have to have much more than a personable manner," explained David Hill, Echelon's managing director. "Among other things, you have to have well developed powers of observation, tact, confidence and initiative.

"This use of professional actors - to assess candidates - is essential because it represents the most cost-effective and lifelike way of testing these qualities in the candidates," he added.

‘Moreover, since St Pancras is being re-developed along the lines of Grand Central Station in New York - complete with gourmet restaurants and the longest champagne bar in Europe - the customer care staff there will have to act as tourist guides as well as wayfinders and security officers’

Full UK Government approval was granted in 1996 for the two sections of the 69-mile (108km) High Speed 1 - previously known as Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL). The opening date of the first phase, 43km, was 28th September 2003 - on time and on budget. The second phase, again on time and within budget will open on 14th November 2007.

From November 2007, London - Paris times have been cut to two hours 15 minutes, with Brussels possible in two hours. The Channel Tunnel portal is just 35 minutes from St Pancras and, from 2009, Kent services will see significant reductions with Ashford taking around 36 minutes from London via High Speed 1.

High Speed 1 domestic services connect London with Gravesend, Margate and Broadstairs by joining the classic network at Ebbsfleet and Stratford, while services to Canterbury, Ramsgate and, possibly, Dover will continue to Ashford to join existing routes there.