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Eurostar

Eurostar is a high-speed train system that runs from London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. The train runs through the Channel Tunnel and has been connecting the UK with the rest of continental Europe since 1994. The vehicles are of two types. The older type was put into service in 1992 and is called Class 373 or TMST, but is generally called Eurostar. They were manufactured by Alsthom and are a variant of the French high-speed train TGV. The new type is called Class 374 or Velaro e320 by the manufacturer Siemens. They were put into service in 2015. Between London and Paris, the approximately 470-kilometer route takes 2 hours and 15 minutes, which corresponds to an average speed of 209 km/h. Between London and Brussels, it is approximately 360 kilometers, which takes 1 hour and 55 minutes. In France and Belgium, the trains run at speeds of up to 300 km/h. In the UK, trains first ran on old railways at speeds of around 100 km/h. In 2003, a high-speed line was opened and in November 2007 the rest of the route to London was opened, reducing the journey time by  40 minutes compared to 2002. Trains now depart from St Pancras International station northeast of central London, within walking distance of King's Cross station where long-distance trains to the north and north-east depart. In Brussels, the station is Midi/Zuid (Southern station), from where all long-distance trains from Brussels depart. In Paris, the station is Gare du Nord, from where a metro journey is often required to one of the city's other stations to change to other long-distance trains. There are security checks on Eurostar before boarding, similar to those at an airport. This means that you must arrive at the station at least half an hour before departure (first class 10 minutes). The trains also cross the external border of the Schengen area. Border checks are carried out before boarding and are manned by the country the trains are going to. This is one of the most important passenger connections between the UK and the mainland. 71% of passengers travelling by public transport (air/train/coach) between London and Paris took Eurostar in 2007. Eurostar trains also operate tourist tours during the summer and ski season to south-east France, and tours to Disneyland outside Paris. In 2018, services from London to Amsterdam and Rotterdam started with the new class 374 train type. From 2020, British passport control can be done in the Netherlands, so you can travel directly between Amsterdam and London in both directions. Since 2009, local trains have also been running on the British part of the Paris/Brussels–London high-speed line with another operator, Southeastern, a company that runs many of London’s commuter trains in the area.

March 3rd 2025

 

 
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