Eurostar vs Flying

Possel…………You are so right re. security. Airport security comes over as aggressive and “anti” passenger/travellers. Security on Eurostar is low key and unobtrusive.

To my mind if you are talking “city centre to city centre” Eurostar wins hands down every time.

Planemike……..

In the Gare du Nord RER basement again no signs for Eurostar, only further up, when you’re there already. King’s Cross station on the other side is ok.

Not sure how you can fail to find Eurostar in Gare du Nord, but I do think that the Eurostar facilities there are poor – not enough seats etc.

The journey now is very quick, high speed all the way, and quite comfortable. Anyone who did it the old way out of Waterloo needs to try it from St Pancras (not King’s Cross!!).

Generally, if you’re actually at CDG, or want to fly on out of London, then fly to London, but otherwise Eurostar beats flying hands down, especially when airports seem to have over-implemented security in order to be as annoying as possible. Passing through airports used to be almost enjoyable, but not now.

To get to the Eurostar from CDG one has to ride the RER first. Really hard to get tickets, since the ticket counter is the same as for the TGV, with a looong line. No ticket machines. Lost another 20 minutes.

In the Gare du Nord RER basement again no signs for Eurostar, only further up, when you’re there already.

The service (and ticketing – and yes there are MANY self service ticket machines for the RER at CDG) is hardly Eurostar’s fault – Eurostar provides a service between Paris and London, not between Charles de Gaulle Airport and London.

In the Gare du Nord RER basement again no signs for Eurostar, only further up, when you’re there already.

Again incorrect. All the way from the ticket barriers to exit the RER at Gare du Nord, there are Eurostar signs. OK it doesn’t say “Eurostar” in great big letters but the Eurostar symbol is on all the signs along with directing arrows.

And the lack of integration with the air system makes it almost useless. They’d really really have to do a luggage check-thru system with the airlines.

Again, that’s not the point of Eurostar. Eurostar provides city-to-city travel which, if you are close into the cities, is somewhat faster and a more pleasant experience than lugging out the airports and flying.

Andy

Actually, that’s not Eurostar – that’s Le Shuttle, which is a somewhat different service moving vehicles under the channel. Eurostar ONLY runs trains between London St Pancras/Ashford/Ebbsfleet (UK-end), and Paris Gare Du Nord, Lille and Marne Le Valle (Eurodisney) plus occasional (ski) trains beyond Paris.

Eurostar (which is only a train operator) now actually does pretty good business – it is the tunnel operator that has had financial problems since the tunnel was opened.

Andy

I reaslised that after typing it but I was more talking about the tunnel as a means of getting to Europe, hence me saying I can’t really comment on what the service is like.

Paul

The only time I’ve ever used the Eurostar was last year heading out for a European tour. We drove the tour bus onto the train, departed, and half an hour we were on French soil heading to Germany.

Actually, that’s not Eurostar – that’s Le Shuttle, which is a somewhat different service moving vehicles under the channel. Eurostar ONLY runs trains between London St Pancras/Ashford/Ebbsfleet (UK-end), and Paris Gare Du Nord, Lille and Marne Le Valle (Eurodisney) plus occasional (ski) trains beyond Paris.

Eurostar (which is only a train operator) now actually does pretty good business – it is the tunnel operator that has had financial problems since the tunnel was opened.

Andy

I have to say that I am a bit surprised by some of your comments.

There are in fact many ticket machines where you can buy your RER ticket at CDG. Buy them regularly there. Hey both sncf and ratp try to get rid of as manny manned booth as possible.

Security is far less of an hassle on Eurostar than at any airport. I never lost 45 minutes for security at Eurostar as I recently have at Gatwick.

Straighten up the rails in France? No, I think they are pretty much straight. It’s just that the train rides at 300+ km/h. It jolts a bit but this is normal. If I am not mistaken, on the British side, even on the new section, it rides slower.

As far as I can recall (but I could be mistaken here), Eurotunnel is the money losing venture. I dont think that Eurostar does that bad.

Where I agree with you though is that there should be Eurostar that stop at the TGV train station at CDG. You shouldn’t have to go into Paris to pick up one.

The only time I’ve ever used the Eurostar was last year heading out for a European tour. We drove the tour bus onto the train, departed, and half an hour we were on French soil heading to Germany. I can’t comment on what the service is like on the passenger train or how comfortable it was (our tour bus was very comfortable though!) However as a means of getting between the UK and the continent I think it’s about as easy and efficient as it gets. It isn’t difficult to see its appeal over flying between London and Paris, again as Skymonster says, as much of an aviation fan I am.

Paul

Agree with you Skymonster. I have travelled to Brussels a couple of times. Eurostar, is a generally agreeable experience when compared to flying. The security is low key.

Just a great pity there is no through service from the North of England.

Planemike

On the contrary, I’ve used the Eurostar several times and have found the experience WAY better than flying. Compared to Air France, the Eurostar seats and space at the tables are better than airline seats, the service is better, and the food and drink is much better. The Eurostar has always been on time when I’ve used it whereas Air France has not. Checkin is just insert a ticket into a machine, and yes there is security, but its two minutes and fairly relaxed, rather than the sometimes massive lines at CDG 2F and the frenetic taking off of various clothing items often beloved of CDG security screening. The checkin times are shorter (or to put it another way, arrive at the deadline and you are going to make the train) and there’s far less distance to walk at either St Pancras or Gare du Nord than there is at either LHR (or BHX) or CDG. About the only thing airlines can do, on occasion, is beat Eurostar on prices.

So, despite me being an avid aviation enthusiast, there is no way I’d fly from London to Paris anymore – Eurostar every time. If I happened to be near Heathrow and wanted to be near Charles de Gualle or I was leaving the UK and was getting a long haul flight at CDG that’s a different matter, but I’m not usually in that situation. For point to point, I’ll take the train.

Andy

Eurostar is useful if you are in Paris or Brussels, and need to go to London. It brings you there faster than an airline, at least if you have to fly to Heathrow.

I had the “pleasure” to take the Eurostar once. It was like 8 or so years ago. The british tracks were still the 100 year old ones. And, incidentally, they had the exact same length than the train carriages. What it meant is that you got seasick in the train.

That said, I will fly instead of taking a train anytime I can. And for those who fly BRU-London, well, Take VLM to London City. It is as fast or faster than the eurostar, even with the airport waiting times, the pricing should be similar, and at least it is scenic !
I can only suggest you try it (oh, and LCY is pretty easy and fast to reach from Central London)

As far as I’m aware they see their position exactly the other way round.
And on that weekday of my Paris > London leg this was true, as far as I saw.
On Saturday back not; but I heared that holidays started the day before in UK.

I think the Eurostar would appeal more to the tourist ..whereas the short flight would appeal more to the businessman