Eurostar is a high-speed railway service connecting London with Paris and Brussels. All its trains traverse the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France, owned and operated separately by Eurotunnel.
Routes
The London terminus is St Pancras International, with the other British calling points being at Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International in Kent.
Calling points in France are Calais-Fréthun and Lille-Europe, with the main Paris terminus at Gare du Nord.
Trains to Belgium terminate at Midi/Zuid station in Brussels.
In addition, there are limited services from London to Disneyland Paris at Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy, and to seasonal destinations in southern France.
Fares and Ticketing
It takes about 2h20min for the total journey (gentle reminder : there is 1 hour time difference between France and England during the summer time).
The earliest train from Paris departs at 06.43 and the latest one departs at 21.13. The earliest train from London departs at 5.40 and the latest one departs at 20.31. Click here to download the timetable PDF (from 8 July 2012 to 26 July 2012 and 13 August 2012 to 8 December 2012).
The fare depends on the hour of departure and the type of ticket chosen. There are 5 types of tickets (from the cheapest one to the most expensive) :
- Standard Non Flexible
- Standard Semi Flexible
- Standard Premier Non Flexible
- Standard Premier Flexible
- Business Premier Flexible
Please click here for the seating arrangements per class of cars.
Non Flexible means you cannot exchange or reimburse your ticket. Semi Flexible means the ticket can be reimbursed and exchanged before departure, with additional fees. Flexible means it can be reimbursed and exchanged.
The earliest train from Paris departs at 06.43 and the latest one departs at 21.13. The earliest train from London departs at 5.40 and the latest one departs at 20.31. Click here to download the timetable PDF (from 8 July 2012 to 26 July 2012 and 13 August 2012 to 8 December 2012).
The fare depends on the hour of departure and the type of ticket chosen. There are 5 types of tickets (from the cheapest one to the most expensive) :
- Standard Non Flexible
- Standard Semi Flexible
- Standard Premier Non Flexible
- Standard Premier Flexible
- Business Premier Flexible
Please click here for the seating arrangements per class of cars.
Non Flexible means you cannot exchange or reimburse your ticket. Semi Flexible means the ticket can be reimbursed and exchanged before departure, with additional fees. Flexible means it can be reimbursed and exchanged.
Senior ticket is for people aged more than 60 years old at the date of departure. It is non-exchangeable and non-reimbursable. Young ticket is for people aged less than 26 years old at the date of departure. It is non-exchangeable and non-reimbursable. Kid ticket is for people aged less than 12 years old at the date of departure. International card ticket is for people with the InterRail card. It is exchangeable once before departure, but non-reimbursable. Night ticket is for people travelling on Saturdays for a departure after 16.00 and a return before 12.00 the next day.
The fares below are those departing from Paris. For more information about departure from other cities, please visit the official website (at the end of the post).
Fares
|
One
Way Ticket
|
Return
Tickets
|
|
Standard
|
Semi Flexible
|
From 172€
|
From 305€
|
Non Flexible
|
From 50€
|
From 88€
|
|
Senior
|
48€
|
84€
|
|
Young
|
48€
|
84€
|
|
Kid
|
From 35€
|
From 62€
|
|
International card
|
89€
|
150€
|
|
Night
|
66€
|
||
Standard
Premier
|
Semi Flexible
|
From 197€
|
From 350€
|
Non Flexible
|
From 124€
|
From 220€
|
|
International card
|
159€
|
270€
|
|
Kid
|
From 35€
|
From 62€
|
|
Business
Premier
|
Flexible (Paris)
|
349€
|
620€
|
Flexible (Lille)
|
321€
|
570€
|
The fares depend on seasonal demand and peak days (like Saturday and Sunday) and operate on the same mode as airplane fares, thus a difference in price depending on which day and what time you decide to take the Eurostar. Eurostar bookings open 120 days before departure.
You can book your ticket online on their website (click here) without booking fees or on other travel websites. Then simply print out the tickets, or collect them at the station you are departing from.
Records achieved
The Channel Tunnel used by Eurostar services holds the record for having the longest undersea section anywhere in the world, as well as being the second longest rail tunnel in the world.
On 16 May 2006 Eurostar set a new record for the longest non-stop high-speed journey, a distance of 1,421 kilometres (883 mi) from London to Cannes taking 7 hours 25 minutes.
On 4 September 2007 a record-breaking train left Paris Gare du Nord at 10:44 (09:44 BST) and reached London St Pancras in 2 hours 3 minutes 39 seconds; carrying journalists and railway workers. The train was the first passenger-carrying arrival at St Pancras International station. On 20 September 2007, Eurostar broke another record when it completed the journey from Brussels to London in 1 hour, 43 minutes.
Controls and Security
On 16 May 2006 Eurostar set a new record for the longest non-stop high-speed journey, a distance of 1,421 kilometres (883 mi) from London to Cannes taking 7 hours 25 minutes.
On 4 September 2007 a record-breaking train left Paris Gare du Nord at 10:44 (09:44 BST) and reached London St Pancras in 2 hours 3 minutes 39 seconds; carrying journalists and railway workers. The train was the first passenger-carrying arrival at St Pancras International station. On 20 September 2007, Eurostar broke another record when it completed the journey from Brussels to London in 1 hour, 43 minutes.
Controls and Security
Because the UK is not part of the Schengen Area, and because Belgium and France are not part of 
the Common Travel Area, all Eurostar passengers must go through border controls. Both the British Government and the Schengen governments concerned (Belgium and France) have legal obligations to check the travel documents of those entering their respective countries (as well as those leaving, in the case of Belgium and France).
There is also a full security check similar to those at airports, scanning both bags and people's pockets. Security checks at Eurostar are comparable to those at a small airport and generally very much quicker than at London Heathrow. The recommended check-in time is 30 minutes. The reason for having full security check is special UK legislation for the tunnel.
the Common Travel Area, all Eurostar passengers must go through border controls. Both the British Government and the Schengen governments concerned (Belgium and France) have legal obligations to check the travel documents of those entering their respective countries (as well as those leaving, in the case of Belgium and France).There is also a full security check similar to those at airports, scanning both bags and people's pockets. Security checks at Eurostar are comparable to those at a small airport and generally very much quicker than at London Heathrow. The recommended check-in time is 30 minutes. The reason for having full security check is special UK legislation for the tunnel.
Controls and Security
Website : www.eurostar.com
