Super fast alternative leisurely travel. (Eurostar)

Member Name: garymarsh6

Product:	Eurostar
Date:	21/08/09 (244 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast Stress free competitive pricing more comfort

Disadvantages: If you are claustrophobic you may have issues of going through the tunnel.

Eurostar.


Eurostar offer high speed rail service between London, Paris, Brussels and Lille connecting to the onward rail networks throughout Europe. It is absolutely fantastic that you can do this without taking a plane and often works out just as cheap as flying and in terms of saving money it is quite good too.

This service is enabled due to the magnificent construction of the Channel tunnel which is the longest tunnel in the world under the sea. There are two tunnels that take trains in each direction with a central service tunnel which can be used in an emergency such as a train break down or fire as has happened in recent years. The Eurostar service is also shared with the Eurotunnel car and freight trains. There are two control centres either side of the channel one at Ashford Kent and the other in Coquelles near Calais, France.

It took seven years to complete. I remember when they brought the giant drilling machines which were offloaded at Dover Docks and transported at about 3-4 miles per hour up to the service tunnel just past Aycliffe in Dover then down to the construction site at Samphire hoe below Shakespeare cliff. These drilling machines were massive and took up the whole road on their journey which was about 2 miles and took about 3 hours to transport it. Samphire hoe is a wildlife nature reserve which has been created by the 59 million tons of marl chalk excavated from the tunnel. Samphire is a green leaf plant only found in this area that has grown wild for century's and is used as a vegetable. So some environmental good has come out of this too encouraging rare plants and birds to the area.

Recently they have opened the new Station at Ebbsfleet Kent which is just off the M25 at Dartford off the A2 thereby making it accessible to many people without having to go into central London to St. Pancras station. There is also another station at Ashford in Kent.


Destinations. Average Journey time.

London - Paris 2 Hours 15 Minutes
London - Brussels 1 Hour 51 Minutes
London - Calais 0 Hours 59 Minutes
London - Lille 1 Hour 20 Minutes,
London - Euro Disney 3 Hours 55 Minutes or 2 Hours 56 Minutes December
& January direct.

The trains.


There are three classes of service offered.


Business Premier

Leisure select

Standard


Business Premier.

There are various combinations and permutations of seat including singles twins facing forward or backwards and single or twins with tables in between.

These are the most expensive tickets and offer flexibility in changing departure times allowing you to check in 10 minutes before departure. You can use the extra space to work and use electronic equipment in the carriage. There are power points available. A two course meal is offered depending on the time of the day i.e. Breakfast, lunch or dinner. A choice of drinks wines and champagne are also served. Access to a premium lounge at the terminal with free wifi access. Complimentary newspapers. A chauffeur driver service is available at an extra cost.


Leisure select.


Similar service to Business premier but check in is 30 minutes before departure. It offers a meal dependent on the time of day slightly different from the above but of fairly high standard and complimentary drinks wine and champagne. Complimentary newspapers are available. The seating arrangements are the same as in business premier and there is more leg room than in the standard service.


Standard.


The seating plan is somewhat different the seats are either facing forward or backwards and there is about ten centimetres less leg room. There is a small table in the back of the chair in front. No food is offered but you can opt to visit the buffet carriage.

Buffet car.

There is a wide range of cold food available from the buffet car including sandwiches craps, cold and hot drinks. Beers, water, pop and champagne. For example it costs about £6 for a sandwich, bag of crisps and a can of coke. They also offer travel cards for each destination for example the Oyster card for London; Carnet de billets for Paris and for Brussels the Jump Ticket.



The station terminals.

Check in is quite simple and straight forward you just put your ticket into the machine and off you go. At the UK terminals you have to go through French immigration and then security checks and depending how early you are you can board the train more or less straight away. The terminals are quite user friendly and have café, and toilet facilities. On the return journey you have to go through UK immigration in Paris and customs on arrival at London.

The journey.

The start of the train is practically unnoticeable and the train glides out of the station silently and smoothly. There is a gradual increase of speed reaching speeds of up to 186 miles per hour. Actually going through the tunnel takes approximately 20 minutes there is nothing to see although you can feel your ears pop as you reach the lowest point through the tunnel. The train gets through the tunnel and then depending on your destination the train accelerates to reach speeds again of 186 MPH. Before you know it you reach your destination. If travelling with friends the general chit chat usually entertains you but if travelling alone a good book or reading a news paper is enough entertainment or just watching the countryside whizz past your eyes is entertaining enough. I have always found travelling by Eurostar stress free and no worries about delays at the airports and in fact it can save you more time especially if you are within the locality of Ebbsfleet or Ashford.

Baggage allowance
Euro star = 2 x 30KG suitcases plus one hand baggage.
Air France = 1x 20KG suitcase plus one hand baggage.


Prices.

Prices are quite competitive and if you book your tickets well in advance you can take advantage of return tickets to Paris for £59. Often the various broadsheet papers offer two for one fare deals so they are worth looking out for even if it means you have to buy the newspaper for five days for approximately £5 you can save yourself £54.

For example in a couple of weeks time I have booked a ticket directly through to Strasbourg for £109. The whole journey from door to door will take me approximately 6 and a half hours. This includes transferring from Gare du Nord and Gare du Est.

The same journey by Plane will take 9 hours and 50 minutes and the airfare is £416.80. This includes an hour transfer from home each end and 2 hour pre flight check in.

So you can see not only can I do the journey faster it is considerably cheaper and less stressful.


If travelling to Europe I would seriously consider using Eurostar services not only for convenience but also for time saving, saving money reducing stress levels and saving the environment.

I booked my journey directly with Eurostar at the following on line web address:-


http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/travel_info rmation.jsp




Bon Voyage!

Summary: Excellent smooth sleek and incredibly fast alternative to flying.