Europe here we come. (Euro Tunnel)

Member Name: Holidaying

Product:	Euro Tunnel
Date:	04/03/09 (112 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Speed, convenience.

Disadvantages: Price, service.

The Eurotunnel is referred to by many names, including the Channel Tunnel and the train is referred to as the Eurostar. This epic engineering project was completed about twelve years ago and links the United Kingdom to mainland Europe.

I have used the Eurostar many times, mostly to Paris but also to Brussels.

Speed, compared to flying and ferry
If you want to get from the UK to nearby parts of Europe, the soundness of the decision to use the Eurostar depends on where in the UK you are coming from. If you are coming from London or the Home Counties, then using the Eurostar will almost definitely be quicker than flying, once airport waiting times have been taken in to account. However, if you are coming from Scotland, northern parts of the UK or north Wales, then flying from a local airport, such as Edinburgh or Liverpool, will probably be quicker for you.

However if you want to take your car, then using the Eurostar will be quicker than going by ferry.

Convenience
As I touched on above, the Eurostar is likely to be most convenient for people that live in London or the Home Counties. This is because the train runs from London through Kent and under the English Channel.

Service
I have never taken my car on the Eurostar so cannot comment on that aspect of the service. Sitting in economy class means that the customer gets very little service. There is the chance to purchase food and drinks.

When in Brussels once, I had some problems with my reservation to get back to the UK, and the staff member was very unhelpful, telling me that I would have to rebook and pay again. This meant that I was out of pocket and had to suffer the inconvenience of missing the train that I was booked on to and wait around for a couple of hours.

Comfort
I find the train to be very comfortable, with large seats. It is also warm and light, and the air is fresh even in the tunnel. The train is clean and the windows are bright and clear.

Price
This is one of the major downfalls of the Eurostar in my opinion. Generally, it is expensive. It is more expensive than flying with a low cost airline and more expensive than going by ferry.

The cheapest that I have ever seen the tickets is £59 return to Paris. Whilst this is not extortionate (espeically considering the costs of rail travel in the UK and Western Europe) it is, as I said, more expensive than the alternatives and I think that they would do well to make the pricecheaper, perhaps even reduce it by ten pounds.

I have never seen the train full or very busy and I think that part of that is because of the price.

The overall experience
Overall, using the Eurostar is a pleasant experience. If you buy your ticket in advance it will be cheaper, and if you live in the south east of England than the trip will be quicker than flying or using the ferry, and more convenient than both. You can enjoy the cleanliness and the comfortable seats, but don't expect great service.

Summary: The Euro Tunnel.