Eurostar to France

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Eurostar

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Good news! Eurostar starts a service direct to Euro Disney east of Paris on 18th July 2008. Trains will run on Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturdays only though.

December 2007 - Eurostar has launched through-fares to France and Belgium from 68 major towns and cities in the U.K..

Eurostar, the high-speed international train operator, today (18 December 2007) announced that travellers from 68 towns and cities across Britain can now buy through-fares to Paris, Disneyland Resort Paris, Brussels (as well as any station in Belgium), and 75 connecting destinations in France at www.eurostar.com.

The high-speed train's booking system has been linked with those of seven U.K.train operators: Virgin Trains, First Capital Connect, National Express East Coast, East Midlands Trains, Chiltern Railways, Hull Trains and London Midland, meaning travellers only have to book one ticket for their entire journey.

Standard class, return fares to Paris, Brussels and Disneyland Resort Paris start from just £67. There are up to 17 connecting rail services a day to Paris and up to 10 a day to Brussels.

Through-fares also include travel on London Underground for those passengers needing to transfer from Euston and Marylebone stations to St Pancras International.

The through-fares are available up to 84 days in advance and include travel on London Underground for passengers needing to transfer to St Pancras International.

If travellers miss a train due to a late-running connecting service, they will be able to travel on the next available Eurostar or domestic train at no extra cost.

In the second half of 2008, Eurostar and the U.K. train operators will extend the range of through-fares to more cities, as well as from continental towns and cities for business travellers and holidaymakers heading inbound to destinations across Britain.

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(Eurostar journey times on High Speed 1, the U.K.’s first high-speed line, are: London – Paris 2 hours 15 minutes, London – Disneyland Resort Paris 2 hours 35 minutes, London – Brussels 1 hour 51 minutes.) Travellers in cities such as Leeds, Leicester, Cambridge, York and Birmingham can now simply go to eurostar.com and book one fare valid for the entire journey from their local mainline station to their continental destination. They then collect their tickets from the self-service ticket machines at the station just before starting their journeys.
Travellers can also start their bookings on First Capital Connect and East Midlands Trains websites, from where they will be directed to eurostar.com.

Quick facts

1. Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking London Waterloo (until 13 November), London St Pancras (from 14 November) Ebbsfleet (from 19 November), Ashford, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.

2. Eurostar will switch its London terminal from Waterloo International and begin services from St Pancras International on 14 November 2007. This is the U.K.’s first dedicated high-speed rail line, running for 68 miles (109 km) from the Channel Tunnel near Folkestone to St Pancras International.

3. A new station at Ebbsfleet International, just off junction 2 of the M25 near the Dartford crossing and Bluewater shopping centre in north Kent, will open on 19 November. Journey times will be 10 minutes shorter than from St Pancras.

4. Under its ‘Tread Lightly’ initiative, Eurostar has set a target of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 25% per passenger journey by 2012. Independent research has already shown that a Eurostar journey between London and Paris / Brussels generates 10 times less carbon dioxide than flying.

5. Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.

6. Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies.  Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates a vehicle shuttle service and the Channel Tunnel itself.  Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.

7. What else is good about the new terminal? The longest champagne bar in Europe for a start. It’s also very well-connected – six Tube lines will whisk you direct to St Pancras International. No problem getting there from further afield either – seven train operators serve Kings Cross, St Pancras International and Euston.

8. Journey times on High Speed1, the U.K.’s first high-speed line. St Pancras International to; Paris - 2 hours 15 minutes, Brussels - 1 hour 51minutes, Lille - 1 hour 20minutes. From Ebbsfleet International to; Paris - 2 hours 5 minutes, Brussels - 1 hour 41 minutes.

9. Ashford International station is now complimented by Ebbsfleet. Although there are fewer trains to Ashford than before, with Ebbsfleet now operating, there are now 33% more trains stopping in Kent.

10. The new timetable becomes fully operational on 9 December 2007. In the meantime the transitional timetable will operate from 14 November to 8 December 2007. During this period certain train times could be subject to alterations.

4th September 2007

Eurostar to run inaugural train on high speed 1the U.K.’s first high-speed line, from Paris to St Pancras international.

--Eurostar aims for record journey time --Train will run at 186mph between Channel Tunnel and London for the first time

--Britain joins Europe’s high-speed rail network Eurostar, the high-speed train operator that links the U.K. with the Continent, will today (Tuesday 4 September) run its inaugural train over Britain’s new 186mph high-speed line, arriving into the wonderfully restored St Pancras International, Eurostar’s new London terminal.

The train from Gare du Nord station in Paris, due to depart mid-morning, is aiming to set a new record journey time, covering the 306 mile (492 km) distance to St Pancras International in less than 2 hrs and 15 minutes, the new scheduled time from November, and cutting more than 20 minutes off the current timetable of 2 hours 35 minutes between Paris and Waterloo. Today’s train will travel the full length of High Speed 1, the new line that connects Britain to Europe’s fast-expanding high-speed rail network and that will enable seamless, city centre-to-city centre journeys that are already familiar to millions of continental Europeans.

High Speed 1 has been built on time and within budget and is the link bringing Paris and London - two of the world’s leading cities - even closer together. The excellent connections between domestic and Eurostar services at St Pancras International will also enable travellers from towns and cities across Britain to reach mainland Europe quickly and easily. Faster journeys between the U.K. and the continent will help to boost business and tourism in London and in the regions – aiding the economy and adding to the U.K.’s competitive advantage. the U.K.’s first high-speed line runs for 68 miles (109 km) from the Channel Tunnel near Folkestone to St Pancras International in central London. It passes through Ashford International and Eurostar’s new station at Ebbsfleet International in Kent, before crossing under the River Thames and approaching the capital in tunnels under east London. Eurostar trains will travel at a speed of 186 mph (300km/h) – 50% faster than even Britain’s fastest domestic rail services.

Richard Brown, Chief Executive of Eurostar, said: "Today marks Britain’s entry into the European high-speed rail club. We can now run trains at high speed all the way from the Channel Tunnel to London, making journeys between cities quicker, more convenient - and far greener than flying. "Eurostar will soon have two new stations, opening up European rail travel to millions more people across Britain. St Pancras International has numerous rail connections to towns and cities north and south of the capital, while Ebbsfleet International - just off junction 2 of the M25 and close to Bluewater shopping centre in Kent - is conveniently located for 10 million people across southern England."
Eurostar will launch services from St Pancras International on 14 November this year – in 71 days’ time - having run the final trains from Waterloo the previous evening (13 November). The High Speed 1 timetable will for the first time enable U.K.business travellers to reach the centres of Paris and Brussels before 9am, ready for a full day’s work. Leisure passengers will benefit from later evening departures, allowing them longer for their trips. Travelling by Eurostar will enable passengers to ‘tread lightly’ on the environment – also the name of Eurostar’s plan to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 25% per passenger journey by 2012. From 14 November, Eurostar will offset CO2 emissions that it cannot eliminate at its own expense, making it the first train company in the world to offer ‘carbon neutral’ journeys to all its customers. Independent research has shown that going by Eurostar generates ten times less CO2 than flying, demonstrating that the train is far greener than the plane.

  - ends - Notes to Editors:

1. Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking London Waterloo (until 13 November), London St Pancras (from 14 November) Ebbsfleet (from 19 November), Ashford, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps. 2. Eurostar will switch its London terminal from Waterloo International and begin services from St Pancras International on 14 November 2007. Journey times on High Speed 1, the U.K.’s first high-speed line, will be London – Paris 2h 15min; London – Brussels 1h 51min; and London - Lille 1h 20min.  3. A new station at Ebbsfleet International, just off junction 2 of the M25 near Dartford crossing and Bluewater shopping centre in north Kent, will open on 19 November. Journey times will be 10 minutes shorter than from St Pancras.

4. Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network. 5. Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies.  Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates a vehicle shuttle service and the Channel tunnel itself.  Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer. www.eurostar.com, call 08705 186 186 or contact your travel agent.

More than 110,000 passengers book travel on high speed 1 – with 100 days until Eurostar moves to St Pancras International

--Advance sales up by more than 100%

--First trains from St Pancras sold out

--Surge in passengers seeking alternative to flying

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train operator between the U.K. and the continent, today (6 August) announced that more than 110,000 passengers have booked to travel on High Speed 1 in the period between the opening of St Pancras International on 14 November and Christmas.

In the first two weeks of ticket sales, advance bookings are more than double the same period last year. Demand is coming from both business travellers and leisure passengers seeking faster, more reliable and greener journeys between the U.K. and the continent - on High Speed 1, the U.K.’s first 186 mph line. With 100 days to go until the launch of services from Eurostar’s new London terminal at St Pancras International, the first trains to Paris and Brussels on 14 November are sold out. Almost 90% of Standard Class tickets were snapped up at Eurostar’s lowest price of £59 return.

Seats in Business Premier are in strong demand, with significant growth in premium passengers switching to a more productive and less frustrating alternative to air travel. From 14 November, business travellers will for the first time be able to reach the centres of both Paris and Brussels before 9am without journeying the night before. High Speed 1 will cut journey times by at least 20 minutes, with non-stop times of London-Paris in 2h15m and London-Brussels in 1h51m. Travelling at 186mph, Eurostar trains will be 50% faster than the fastest U.K.domestic rail service.

The move to St Pancras International will open up Eurostar services to the U.K. regions. Evidence from continental high-speed networks shows that business travellers prefer rail over air for trips of up to four hours, while leisure travellers favour trains for journeys up to six hours. High Speed 1 will provide people in southern England and the Midlands with very competitive door-to-door journey times to the continent, via a connection in London. Richard Brown, Chief Executive of Eurostar, said:

"We are seeing a huge surge in advance bookings for travel on High Speed 1. It’s solid evidence that the travelling public is excited by the prospect of journeys that are at least 20 minutes quicker, the experience of travelling at 186mph in the U.K., and the desire to switch from flying in order to ‘do the right thing’ for the environment. "More and more travellers are realising that going by Eurostar avoids airport delays, fuel surcharges, waiting for baggage, and time spent getting to and from out-of-town airports."

Growing numbers of business and leisure passengers are also seeking to ‘tread lightly’ on the environment. Under its Tread Lightly initiative, Eurostar is aiming to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25% per passenger journey by 2012. From 14 November, where Eurostar cannot eliminate emissions it will offset them at its own expense, making it the first train operator in the world to provide ‘carbon neutral’ journeys for all its customers.
Independent research has shown that a Eurostar journey emits 10 times less carbon dioxide than flying, and Eurostar is determined to become greener still. Tickets for the first services on High Speed 1 went on sale on 24 July.
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Notes to Editors.

1.  Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking London Waterloo (until 13 November), London St Pancras (from 14 November) Ebbsfleet (from 19 November), Ashford, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps

2.  Ebbsfleet International, just off junction 2 of the M25 near Dartford crossing and Bluewater shopping centre in north Kent, will open on 19 November. Journey times will be 10 minutes shorter than from St Pancras.

3.  Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.

4.  Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies.  Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates vehicle shuttle services and the Channel tunnel itself.  Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.

5.  To book tickets for Eurostar, or to find out more information, go to www.eurostar.com, call 08705 186 186 or contact your travel agent.