Eurostar – the fastest rail link between London and Belgium or France.
Published by vanhal in Cruise, Europe, Travel Tips, Travel gear
If you saw the film Mission Impossible, you’ve already seen Europe’s “Chunnel” passenger train in action. In that movie, Tom Cruise fended off a helicopter from the Eurostar’s roof until the chopper blew up inside the English Channel Tunnel.
Most Eurostar trips are less dramatic. More than two dozen high-speed electric trains (based on French TGV designs) connect London with Lille, Paris, Brussels, Avignon, the French Alps, and the Disneyland Paris resort at speeds of up to 300 km/h or 186 mph.
Travel time can be as little as 2 hours 35 minutes between London and Paris, or 2 hours 20 minutes on the London-Brussels route. (Trains that stop at Ashford, Lille, and other stations take a few minutes longer.)Eurostar services depart London Waterloo International station and arrive to the heart of Brussels in only two hours and 20 minutes, or to the heart of Paris in just two hours and 25 minutes!
Trains are running at frequent intervals during the day, making it possible to leave London in the morning, have lunch in Paris, and be back to London the same day.Each single train has the following facilities:
* Bar Buffet – Two non-smoking bar buffet are located on each Eurostar train, in coaches 6 and 13. Payments are accepted by credit cards, and in cash using the €uro as well as UK Pound Sterling (£) and U$ American dollars.
* Baby Changing Rooms – Located at the end of coaches one and eighteen.
* Wheelchair passengers – Two designated areas in coaches nine and ten.
* Children’s Packs – Offered by Eurostar, complimentary children’s packs for all children under seven years of age.
A Business Premier (First Class) ticket entitles you to the following:
* Dedicated check-in desks, with 10 minutes chek-in in London, Paris and Brussels
* Dedicated Business Premier coaches
* Exclusive Business loung access in London, Paris and Brussels
* ‘Express Breakfast’ option
* Full non smoking air-conditioning coaches
* Complimentary meal, including wine and non-alcoholic drinks, served at the passenger’s seat appropriate to the time of the day
* Complimentary newspapers and magazines
* Spacious reclining seats with generous legroom
A Leisure Select (First Class) ticket entitles you to the following:
* 30 minutes check-in in London, Paris and Brussels
* Dedicated Leisure Select coaches
* Full non smoking air-conditioning coaches
* Complimentary meal, including wine and non-alcoholic drinks, served at the passenger’s seat appropriate to the time of the day
* Complimentary newspapers and magazines
* Spacious reclining seats with generous legroom
A Standard (Second Class) ticket entitles you to the following:
* Fully non smoking air conditioned coaches
* Comfortable seats each with either an individual slide-out table, or a fixed table shared with adjacent passengers
* Access to the two bar buffets offering a wide choice of drinks, snacks and light meals
