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Eurostar

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This article is about the international high-speed passenger railway service connecting Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.. For other uses, see Eurostar (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Eurostat.

Eurostar
Two generations of cross-Channel Eurostar trains at London St Pancras. A Class 374 E320 (left) with a Class 373 E300 (right)
Overview
Franchise(s)Not subject to franchising; international joint operation 1994–2009; international high speed operator 2010–present
Main stations(s)
Fleet size
Stations called at28[citation needed]
Parent companyEurostar Group
Reporting markES
Other
Websitewww.eurostar.com Edit this at Wikidata
System map

Legend
 Dortmund
Deutsche Bahn Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn Dortmund Stadtbahn
 Essen
Deutsche Bahn Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn Essen Stadtbahn
 Duisburg
Deutsche Bahn Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn Duisburg Stadtbahn
 Düsseldorf Airport Düsseldorf Airport
Deutsche Bahn Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn
w:Nederlandse Spoorwegen Deutsche Bahn European Sleeper
enlarge… Amsterdam Centraal
Düsseldorf
Deutsche Bahn Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn Düsseldorf Stadtbahn
w:Nederlandse Spoorwegen European Sleeper
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol enlarge… Schiphol Airport
Cologne
Deutsche Bahn Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn Cologne Stadtbahn
w:Nederlandse Spoorwegen European Sleeper
enlarge… Rotterdam Centraal
Aachen
Deutsche Bahn
Netherlands
Belgium
Germany
Belgium
w:Nederlandse Spoorwegen European Sleeper
Antwerpen-Centraal
Liège
Deutsche Bahn
National Rail London Underground London Overground
London
Brussels
w:Nederlandse Spoorwegen TGV inOui Deutsche Bahn European Sleeper Brussels Metro
enlarge… Channel Tunnel
UK
France
Belgium
France
TGV inOui TER Hauts-de-France
Lille
TGV inOui TER Hauts-de-France Transilien RER Paris Métro
Paris
TGV inOui Ouigo RER
Charles de Gaulle Airport enlarge…
Charles de Gaulle
Airport
TGV inOui Ouigo RER
enlarge…
Marne-la-Vallée–
Chessy
summer seasonal service
 
winter seasonal service
(discontinued)
TGV inOui Ouigo Renfe TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Valence TGV
Chambéry
TGV inOui Trenitalia TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
TGV inOui Ouigo TGV Lyria Renfe Deutsche Bahn TER PACA
Avignon TGV
Albertville
TGV inOui Ouigo TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpesr
TGV inOui Ouigo TGV Lyria Renfe Deutsche Bahn
Aix-en-Provence TGV
Moûtiers-Salins-Brides-les-Bains
TGV inOui Ouigo TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
TGV inOui Ouigo TGV Lyria Renfe Deutsche Bahn Intercités TER PACA TER OccitanieMarseille-Saint-Charles
Aime-La Plagne
TGV inOui Ouigo TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
 Landry
TGV inOui TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
 Bourg-Saint-Maurice
TGV inOui Ouigo TER Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Direct cross-Channel
service available
Direct cross-Channel
service not available
This diagram:

Eurostar is an international high-speed rail service in Western Europe, connecting Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Until October 2023, the Eurostar brand was exclusively used for trains travelling through the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. However, following the merger of Eurostar and Thalys in April 2022, forming the Eurostar Group, the Eurostar brand replaced Thalys.

The service uses High Speed rail lines to connect major European cities such as Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne, London and Paris. Seasonal services are also operated to Southern France. The operator is exploring future network expansions and aims to double passenger numbers by 2030.[1]

Eurostar is operated by Eurostar International Limited (EIL), which is owned by Eurostar Group. France's SNCF Voyageurs is the largest individual shareholder holding a 55.75% stake.

History

This section covers the history of the Eurostar brand, for history of the former Thalys operator, see Thalys.

Conception and planning

Main articles: Channel Tunnel, Getlink, and TransManche Link
A typical cross-section of the Channel Tunnel. A service tunnel was constructed first in between the twin rail tunnels.

The history of the Eurostar brand can be traced to the choice in 1986 of a rail tunnel to provide a cross-channel link between Britain and France.[2] A previous attempt to construct a tunnel between the two nations had begun in 1974, but was quickly aborted. Construction began afresh in 1988. Eurotunnel was created to manage and own the tunnel, which was finished in 1993, the official opening taking place on 6 May 1994.[3]

In addition to the tunnel's shuttle trains carrying cars and lorries between Folkestone and Calais, the tunnel opened up the possibility of through passenger and freight train services between places further afield.[4] British Rail and France's SNCF contracted with Eurotunnel to use half the tunnel's capacity for this purpose. In 1987, Britain, France and Belgium set up an International Project Group to specify a train to provide an international high-speed passenger service through the tunnel. France had been operating high-speed TGV services since 1981, and had begun construction of a new high-speed line between Paris and the Channel Tunnel, LGV Nord; French TGV technology was chosen as the basis for the new trains. An order for 30 trainsets, to be manufactured in France but with some British and Belgian components, was placed in December 1989.[citation needed] On 20 June 1993, the first Eurostar test train travelled through the tunnel to the UK.[5] Various technical difficulties in running the new trains on British tracks were quickly overcome.[6]

Launch of service

The original Eurostar logo used from 1994 until 2011

On 14 November 1994, Eurostar services began running from Waterloo International station in London, to Paris-Nord, as well as Brussels-South railway station.[4][7][8] The train service started with a limited Discovery service; the full daily service started from 28 May 1995.[9]

In 1995, Eurostar was achieving an average end-to-end speed of 171.5 km/h (106.6 mph) from London to Paris.[10] On 8 January 1996, Eurostar launched services from a second railway station in the UK when Ashford International was opened.[11]

Also in 1996, Eurostar commenced its year-round service to Disneyland with the first train running on 29 June. The following year saw the introduction of services to the French Alps during the winter.[12]

On 20 July 2002 a summer seasonal service to Avignon-Centre was launched. The service ran until 2014 after which it was replaced on 1 May 2015 by an expanded service calling at Avignon TGV and also serving Lyon and Marseille.[12]

On 23 September 2003, passenger services began running on the first completed section of High Speed 1.[5] Following a high-profile glamorous opening ceremony[13] and a large advertising campaign,[14] on 14 November 2007, Eurostar services in London transferred from Waterloo to the extended and extensively refurbished London St Pancras International.[15]

Direct services from London to Amsterdam (returning to Brussels only) were launched on 4 April 2018. This service was made a return service on 26 October 2020.[16]

Records achieved

Eurostar relocated from Waterloo International station to London St Pancras International station in November 2007.

The Channel Tunnel used by Eurostar services holds the record for having the longest underwater section of any tunnel in the world,[17] and it is the third-longest railway tunnel (behind the Seikan Tunnel and the Gotthard Base Tunnel) in the world.[18]

On 30 July 2003, a Eurostar train set a new British speed record of 334.7 km/h (208.0 mph) on the first section of the "High Speed 1" railway between the Channel Tunnel,[5][7] and Fawkham Junction in north Kent, two months before official public services began running.

On 16 May 2006, Eurostar set a new record for the longest non-stop high-speed journey, a distance of 1,421 km (883 miles) from London to Cannes taking 7 hours 25 minutes.[19]

On 4 September 2007, a record-breaking train left Paris-Nord at 10:44 (09:44 BST) and reached London St Pancras International in 2 hours 3 minutes 39 seconds,[20] carrying journalists and railway workers. This record trip was also the first passenger-carrying arrival at the new London St Pancras International station.[21] On 20 September 2007, Eurostar broke another record when it completed the journey from Brussels to London in 1 hour 43 minutes.[22]

Regional Eurostar and Nightstar

Further information: Regional Eurostar and Nightstar (train)
A pair of Eurostar trains at the former Waterloo International

The original proposals for Eurostar included direct services to Paris and Brussels from cities north of London: Manchester Piccadilly via Birmingham New Street on the West Coast Main Line and Leeds and Glasgow Central via Edinburgh Waverley, Newcastle and York on the East Coast Main Line.[23]

Seven 14-coach "North of London" Eurostar trains for these Regional Eurostar services were built, but these services never came to fruition. Predicted journey times of almost nine hours for Glasgow to Paris at the time of growth of low-cost air travel during the 1990s made the plans commercially unviable against the cheaper and quicker airlines.[24] Other reasons that have been suggested for these services having never been run were both government policies and the disruptive privatisation of British Rail.[25] Three of the Regional Eurostar units were leased by Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) to increase domestic services from London King's Cross to York and later Leeds.[26][27] The lease expired in December 2005, and most of the North of London sets were transferred to SNCF for TGV services in northern France.[28][29]

An international Nightstar sleeper train was also planned; this would have travelled the same routes as Regional Eurostar, plus the Great Western Main Line to Cardiff Central.[30] These were also deemed commercially unviable, and the scheme was abandoned with no services ever operated. In 2000, the coaches were sold to Via Rail in Canada.[31][32]

Ashford International station

Main article: Ashford International railway station
Domestic entrance to Ashford International, since 2007

Ashford International station was the original station for Eurostar services in Kent.[33] Once Ebbsfleet International railway station, also designed to serve Kent, had opened, only three trains a day to Paris-Nord and one to Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy called at Ashford International for a considerable period of time. There were fears that services at Ashford International might be further reduced or withdrawn altogether as Eurostar planned to make Ebbsfleet International the new regional hub instead.[34] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic no service has been provided at all since 2020 and Eurostar has no plans to restore service before 2025[35].

Rules for cycles on trains

In 2015, Eurostar threatened to require cyclists to disassemble bicycles before they could be transported on the trains. Following criticism from Boris Johnson and cycling groups, Eurostar reversed the plans.[36]

In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the bicycle service was suspended. The service was not reintroduced until January 2023 due to issues caused by both the pandemic and Brexit. After the reintroduction, cyclists were required to disassemble their bicycles and put them in boxes.[37][38]

Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment

By March 2016, onboard entertainment was provided by GoMedia, including Wi-Fi connectivity and up to 300 hours of movies and television kept on the train's servers and accessed using the passenger's own devices: mobile phones, tablets, laptops etc. A tracker app allows customers to see where they are.[39]

Merger with Thalys

The Eurostar logo: Eurostar text with a stylised "e"
Logo used pre-merger (2011-2023)

On 27 September 2019, the heads of two of Eurostar's major shareholders, Guillaume Pepy of SNCF, and the chair of SNCB, Sophie Dutordoir [fr; nl], publicised that Eurostar was planning to come together with its sister company the Franco-Belgian transnational rail service Thalys.[40][41] The arrangement is to merge their operations under the working title of "Green Speed" and expand services outside the core London-Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam service, to create a grand Western European high-speed rail service covering the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, serving up to 30 million customers by 2030.[42][43]

As of 2019, Thalys assisted Eurostar with onward connections between Amsterdam and Brussels, and to provide the Amsterdam to London service, in lieu of passport and customs checks at Amsterdam Centraal station.

In September 2020, the merger between Thalys and Eurostar International was confirmed,[44] a year after Thalys announced its intention to merge with the cross-Channel provider subject to gaining European Commission clearance, to form "Green Speed". SNCF and SNCB already hold a controlling shareholding in Eurostar. In October 2021, it was announced that, following the completion of the merger, the Thalys brand would be discontinued, with all of the new operation's services to be operated under the Eurostar name but with each service's own liveries.[45]

In October 2023, the Eurostar brand replaced Thalys, operating as one network and combining ticket sales in a single system.[46]

Corporate structure

Main article: Eurostar International Limited

Eurostar was originally operated as a collaboration of three separate French, British and Belgian corporate entities. On 1 September 2010, Eurostar was incorporated as a single corporate entity, Eurostar International Limited (EIL), replacing the joint operation between EUKL, SNCF and SNCB/NMBS.[47] EIL is ultimately owned by SNCF (55%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) (30%), Hermes Infrastructure (10%) and SNCB (5%).[48][49][50]

Impact of COVID-19

By January 2021, Eurostar ridership went down to less than 1% of pre-pandemic levels.[51] The combined financial troubles and lack of ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to Eurostar seeking governmental assistance from Britain's Treasury and Department for Transport, even though Britain sold its 40% Eurostar holding in 2015.[51][52][53] Eurostar's appeal included granting the company access to Bank of England-backed loans and a temporary reduction in track access charges for use of the UK's high-speed rail line.[51] Despite being majority-owned by the French state railway, SNCF, Eurostar was thought to have already exhausted options for governmental assistance from Paris,[54] but both the French transport minister and the UK Department for Transport confirmed they were working on further plans to maintain the service.[55]

By the end of 2022, Eurostar had debts of €964m, following French bailouts and commercial loans.[56] Ridership levels returned to around 8 million in 2022, however this figure was still 3 million below 2019 levels.[56] Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Eurostar has not served the Ashford International or Ebbsfleet International stations in the UK, and has withdrawn its Disneyland Paris and Avignon services, as part of plans to focus on the most profitable routes.[57][56]

In March 2020, Eurostar placed all of their Class 373 or E300 into storage due to reduced operations. In January 2022, the sets recommenced testing on HS1, before returning to service on 21 February.[citation needed]

Mainline routes

Networks of Major High Speed Rail Operators in Europe. Eurostar shown in brown.

LGV Nord (France)

Main article: LGV Nord

LGV Nord is a French 333 km (207-mile)-long high-speed rail line that connects Paris to the Belgian border and the Channel Tunnel via Lille. It opened in 1993.[58] Its extensions to Belgium and towards Paris, as well as connecting to the Channel Tunnel, have made LGV Nord a part of every Eurostar journey undertaken. A Belgian high-speed line, HSL 1, was added to the end of LGV Nord, at the Belgian border, in 1997. Of all French high-speed lines, LGV Nord sees the widest variety of high-speed rolling stock and is quite busy; a proposed cut-off bypassing Lille, which would reduce Eurostar journey times to Paris, is called LGV Picardie.

Channel Tunnel

Main article: Channel Tunnel

The Channel Tunnel is the most important part of the route as it is the only rail connection between Great Britain and the European mainland. It joins LGV Nord in France with High Speed One in Britain. Tunnelling began in 1988, and the 50.5 km (31.4-mile) tunnel was officially opened by British sovereign Queen Elizabeth II and the French President François Mitterrand at a ceremony in Calais on 6 May 1994.[3] It is owned by Getlink, which charges a significant toll to Eurostar for its use.[59] In 1996, the American Society of Civil Engineers named the tunnel as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.[60] Along the current route of the Eurostar service, line speeds are 300 km/h (186 mph) except within the Channel Tunnel, where a reduced speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) applies for safety reasons.[61][62] Since the launch of Eurostar services, severe disruptions and cancellations have been caused by fires breaking out within the Channel Tunnel, such as in 1996,[63] 2006 (minor),[64] 2008 and 2015.[65]

HSL 1 (Belgium)

Main article: HSL 1
Eurostar train on HSL 1 near Silly, Belgium

Until the opening on 2 June 1996, of the first phase of the Belgian high speed line,[66] Eurostar trains were routed via the Belgian railway line 94. The Eurostar routes still use the line as a diversion if engineering works are taking place on HSL1, depending where it is. The 06:13 from London St Pancras to Brussels still uses the line as a diversion to bypass the peak time disruptions on HSL1 due to extra TGV services from Brussels for commuters. After 2 June 1996, some Eurostars to Brussels were routed via the first phase of the Belgian High Speed line and the Belgian railway line 78 via Mons. Although this line is still as a diversion if HSL1 is doing engineering, also depending where the maintenance is taking place.[9] Journey times between London and Brussels were improved when an 88 km (55-mile) Belgian high-speed line, HSL 1, opened on 14 December 1997.[67][68] It links with LGV Nord on the border with France, allowing Eurostar trains heading to Brussels to make the transition between the two without having to reduce speed. A further four-minute improvement for London–Brussels trains was achieved in December 2006, with the opening of the 435 m (1,427 ft) Brussels South Viaduct. Linking the international platforms of Brussels-South railway station with the high-speed line, the viaduct separates Eurostar (and Thalys) from local services.[69]

High Speed 1 (United Kingdom)

Main article: High Speed 1
Eurostar train on High Speed 1 near Strood, South East England

High Speed 1 (HS1), formerly known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), is a 108 km (67-mile) high-speed railway line running from London through Kent to the British end of the Channel Tunnel.[70][71] It was built in two stages. The first section between the tunnel and Fawkham Junction in north Kent opened in September 2003, cutting London–Paris journey times by 21 minutes to 2 hours 35 minutes, and London–Brussels to 2 hours 20 minutes. On 14 November 2007, commercial services began over the whole of the new HS1 line. The redeveloped London St Pancras International station became the new London terminus for all Eurostar services.[72] The completion of High Speed 1 has brought the British part of Eurostar's route up to the same standards as the French and Belgian high-speed lines. Non-stop journey times were reduced by a further 20 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes for London–Paris and 1 hour 51 minutes for London–Brussels.[73][74] As of Autumn 2020, HS1 is the UK's first renewable-powered railway.[75]

HSL Zuid (Netherlands)

Main article: HSL-Zuid
HSL-Zuid near Zoetermeer

High-Zuid (HS1),is a 125 kilometre-long (78 miles) Dutch high-speed railway line running between the Amsterdam metropolitan area and the Belgian border, with a branch to Breda, North Brabant. Together with the Belgian HSL 4 it forms the Schiphol–Antwerp high-speed railway. Originally scheduled to be in service by 2007, the first public operations began on 7 September 2009, after a ceremony on 6 September.[1]. Eurostar services operate around 15 times a day on this line between Paris/London and Amsterdam.

Services

Frequency

Eurostar departure information – Brussels

Eurostar offers up to 15 weekday London – Paris services (19 on Fridays) including nine non-stop (13 on Fridays). There are also nine (ten on Friday) London–Brussels services, of which two run non-stop (continuing to Amsterdam) and a further two call at Lille only. One service daily operates to Amsterdam via Brussels and Rotterdam, also calling at Lille.[76][77] There were also seasonal services: in the winter, "Snow trains",[78] aimed at skiers, to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Aime-la-Plagne and Moûtiers in the Alps; these ran weekly, arriving in the alps in the evening and leaving the same evening to arrive in London the following morning.[79] This service was confirmed as withdrawn in August 2023, and its future is unknown.[80]

In February 2018, Eurostar announced the start of its long-planned service from London to Amsterdam, with an initial two trains per day from April of that year running between St Pancras and Amsterdam Centraal. This launched as a one-way service, with return trains carrying passengers to Rotterdam and Brussels Midi/Zuid, making a 28-minute stop (which was not deemed long enough to process UK-bound passengers) and then carrying different passengers from Brussels to London.[81] Initially passengers travelling back took a Thalys service to Brussels Midi/Zuid where they could join the Eurostar. This was due to the lack of facilities for juxtaposed controls by the UK Border Force at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal. On 4 February 2020, the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, and the UK Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, announced that juxtaposed controls would be established at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal. The direct train from Amsterdam was originally due to launch on 30 April 2020, and from Rotterdam on 18 May 2020,[82][83] although it was later postponed to 26 October 2020 for both cities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[84][85]

Since 14 November 2007, all Eurostar trains have been routed via High Speed–1 to or from the redeveloped London terminus at London St Pancras International, which at a cost of £800 million was extensively rebuilt and extended to cope with 394 m (431-yard) long Eurostar trains.[15][86][87] It had been intended to retain some Eurostar services at Waterloo International, but this was ruled out on cost grounds.[88] Completion of High Speed–1 increased the potential number of trains serving London. Separation of Eurostar from British domestic services through Kent meant that timetabling was no longer affected by peak-hour restrictions.

Fares

Eurostar trains in the renovated train shed at St Pancras International

Eurostar's fares were significantly higher in its early years; the cheapest fare in 1994 was £99 return.[89] In 2002, Eurostar was planning cheaper fares, an example of which was an offer of £50-day returns from London to Paris or Brussels. By March 2003, the cheapest fare from the UK was £59 return, available all year around.[89] In June 2009 it was announced that one-way single fares would be available at £31 at the cheapest. Competition between Eurostar and airline services was a large factor in ticket prices being reduced from the initial levels.[90][91] Business Premier fares also slightly undercut air fares on similar routes, targeted at regular business travellers.[92] In 2009, Eurostar greatly increased its budget ticket availability to help maintain and grow its dominant market share.[citation needed] The Eurostar ticketing system is very complex, being distributed through no fewer than 48 individual sales systems.[93] Eurostar is a member of the Amadeus CRS distribution system, making its tickets available alongside those of airlines worldwide.[94]

Eurostar has two sub-classes of first class: Standard Premier and Business Premier; benefits include guaranteed faster checking-in and meals served at-seat, as well as the improved furnishings and interior of carriages.[95] The rebranding is part of Eurostar's marketing drive to attract more business professionals.[96] Increasingly, business people in a group have been chartering private carriages as opposed to individual seats on the train.[97]

Service connections

Two Eurostar trains, a Thalys train, and a TGV train side by side at Paris-Nord.
Eurostar Class 373 at Lille-Europe, an interchange with other TGV services

Without the operation of Regional Eurostar services using the North of London trainsets across the rest of Britain, Eurostar has developed its connections with other transport services instead, such as integrating effectively with traditional UK rail operators' schedules and routes, making it possible for passengers to use Eurostar as a quick connection to further destinations on the continent.[98] All three main terminals used by the Eurostar service – St Pancras International, Paris Gare du Nord, and Brussels Midi/Zuid – are served by domestic trains and by local urban transport networks such as the London Underground, Paris Metro Brussels Metro and Amsterdam Metro. Standard Eurostar tickets no longer include free onward connections to or from any other station in Belgium: this is now available for a flat-rate supplement, currently £5.50.[99]

Eurostar has announced several partnerships with other rail services,[100] most notably Thalys connections at Lille and Brussels for passengers to go beyond current Eurostar routes towards the Netherlands and Germany.[101] In 2002, Eurostar initiated the Eurostar-Plus program, offering connecting tickets for onward journeys from Lille and Paris to dozens of destinations in France. Through fares are also available from 68 British towns and cities to destinations in France and Belgium.[102] In May 2009 Eurostar announced that a formal connection to Switzerland had been established in a partnership between Eurostar and Lyria, which will operate TGV services from Lille to the Swiss Alps for Eurostar connection.[103][104][105]

In May 2019, Eurostar ended its agreement with Deutsche Bahn that allowed passengers to travel by train from the UK to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Under the agreement passengers could travel on a single booking which made rescheduling easier. However, the direct tickets ceased to be sold from 9 November 2019.[106]

Controls and security

A UK passport stamp issued in Paris
A Schengen (French) passport stamp issued in London
Entering the UK in Paris (left) and France in London using the Eurostar.
Main article: Juxtaposed controls

Because the UK is not part of the European Union or the Schengen Area,[107] and because the Netherlands, Belgium and France are not part of the Common Travel Area, all Eurostar passengers must go through border controls. Both the British Government and the Schengen governments concerned (Belgium, Netherlands and France) have legal obligations to check the travel documents of those entering and leaving their respective countries.

To allow passengers to walk off the train without arrival checks in most cases, juxtaposed controls ordinarily take place at the embarkation station.

To comply with UK law,[108] there are full security checks similar to those at airports, scanning both bags and people's pockets. The recommended check-in time is 90–120 minutes except for business class where it is 45–60 minutes; these are much longer than previously because of extra checks in place due to Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.[109]

Eurostar passengers travelling within the Schengen area on trains towards London bypass border checks, and enter the preallocated cars at the rear of the train, which are reserved for these passengers. This area is then searched at Lille and all passengers removed. This arrangement was set up after numerous people entered the UK without prior authorisation, by buying a ticket from Brussels to Lille or Calais but remaining on the train until London – an issue exacerbated by Belgian police threatening to arrest UK Border Agency staff at Brussels-South if they tried to prevent passengers whom they suspected of attempting to exploit this loophole from boarding Eurostar trains.[110] Travel from Calais or Lille towards Brussels and the Netherlands has no border or security control. On 7 July 2020, a modified agreement was signed in Brussels that includes The Netherlands in the previous agreement. This allows for juxtaposed controls in Amsterdam and Rotterdam like those in Brussels and Paris.[111]

When the tripartite agreements were signed, the Belgian Government said that it had serious questions about the compatibility of this agreement with the Schengen Convention and the principle of free movement of people enshrined in various European treaties.[112]

On 30 June 2009, Eurostar raised concerns at the UK House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee that it was illegal under French law to collect the information required by the UK government under the e-Borders scheme, and the company would be unable to cooperate.[113][114]

On the northbound Disneyland and ski trains, the security check and French passport check take place at the origin, while the UK passport check takes place at the UK arrival stations. These are the only route where passengers are not cleared by UK border officials before crossing the Channel.

On the northbound Marseille-London train, there is no facility for security or passport checks at the southern French stations, so passengers must leave the train at Lille-Europe, taking all their belongings with them, and undergo security and border checks there before rejoining the train which waits at the station for just over an hour.[115]

On several occasions, people have tried to stow away illegally on board the train,[116] sometimes in large groups,[117] trying to enter the UK; border monitoring and security is therefore extremely tight.[118] Eurostar claims to have good and well-funded security measures.[119]

Operational performance

A Eurostar pulling into Lille-Europe
Eurostar market share and punctuality.

Eurostar's punctuality has fluctuated from year to year, but usually remains over 90%;[120] in the first quarter of 1999, 89% of services operated were on time, and in the second quarter it reached 92%.[121] Eurostar's best punctuality record was 97.35%, between 16 and 22 August 2004.[5] In 2006, it was 92.7%,[122] and in 2007, 91.5% were on time.[note 1][123] In the first quarter of 2009, 96% of Eurostar services were punctual, compared with rival air routes' 76%.[124]

An advantage held by Eurostar is the convenience and speed of the service: with shorter check-in times than at most airports and hence quicker boarding and less queueing[125][126] and high punctuality, it takes less time to travel between central London and central Paris by high-speed rail than by air. Eurostar now has a dominant share of the combined rail–air market on its routes to Paris and Brussels. In 2004, it had a 66% share of the London–Paris market, and a 59% share of the London–Brussels market.[127] In 2007, it achieved record market shares of 71% for London–Paris and 65% for London–Brussels routes.[128]

Eurostar's passenger numbers initially failed to meet predictions. In 1996, London and Continental Railways forecast that passenger numbers would reach 21.4 million annually by 2004,[129] but only 7.3 million was achieved. Eighty-two million passengers used Waterloo International Station from its opening in 1994 to its closure in 2007.[7] 2008 was a record year for Eurostar, with a 10.3% rise in passenger use, which was attributed to the use of High Speed 1 and the move to St Pancras.[130] The following year, Eurostar saw an 11.5% fall in passenger numbers[131] during the first three months of 2009, attributed to the 2008 Channel Tunnel fire[65] and the 2009 recession.[132]

As a result of the poor economic conditions, Eurostar received state aid in May 2009 to cancel out some of the accumulated debt from the High Speed 1 construction programme.[133] Later that year, during snowy conditions in the run-up to Christmas, thousands of passengers were left stranded as several trains broke down and many more were cancelled. In an independent review commissioned by Eurostar, the company came in for serious criticism about its handling of the incident and lack of plans for such a scenario.[134]

In 2006, the Department for Transport predicted that, by 2037, annual cross-channel passenger numbers would probably reach 16 million,[135] considerably less optimistic than London and Continental Railways's original 1996 forecast.[129] In 2007 Eurostar set a target of carrying 10 million passengers by 2010.[136] The company cited several factors to support this objective, such as improved journey times, punctuality and station facilities. Passengers in general, it stated, are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental effects of air travel, and Eurostar services emit much less carbon dioxide.[137] and that its remaining carbon emissions are now offset, making its services carbon neutral.[138][139] Further expansion of the high-speed rail network in Europe, such as the HSL-Zuid line between Belgium and the Netherlands, continues to bring more destinations within rail-competitive range, giving Eurostar the possibility of opening up new services in future.

The following chart presents the estimated number of passengers annually transported by the Eurostar service since 1995: [140][141][142][143][144][145][146][147]

In 2019, cumulative ridership since 1994 surpassed 200 million.[148] Eleven million passengers travelled on its international services during 2018, the highest ever, a 7% increase on the 10.3 million carried in 2017.[149]

Awards and accolades

Several Eurostar trains at platforms at Paris-Nord
Eurostars at Paris-Nord running late night services

Eurostar has been hailed as having set new standards in international rail travel and has won praise several times over for its high standards.[150][151][152] However, Eurostar had previously struggled with its reputation and brand image. One commentator had defined the situation at the time as:[153]

In June 2003, Eurostar was battling to recover from the worst period in its 10-year history. Negative media coverage combined with poor sales and the general public's low opinion of the British rail industry, created a major challenge... Eurostar was finding it difficult to pick itself up from one of the worst periods in its decade-long history. The period post 9/11 had sent the business into a downturn. Passenger numbers were drying up due to worries over international travel. Several management changes had led to a pause in strategy. Punctuality had suffered badly because of wider problems with the UK's rail infrastructure.

Eurostar won the Train Operator of the Year award in the HSBC Rail Awards for 2005.[100] In 2006, Eurostar's Environment Group was set up,[154] with the aim of making changes in the Eurostar services' daily running to decrease negative environmental impact.[155] The organisation set itself a target of reducing carbon emissions per passenger journey by 25% by 2012.[155] Drivers were trained in techniques to achieve maximum energy efficiency, and lighting was minimised; the provider of the bulk of the energy for the Channel Tunnel was switched to nuclear power stations in France.[155] Eurostar's target was to reduce emissions by 35 percent per passenger journey by 2012, putting itself beyond the efforts of other railway companies in this field and thereby winning the 2007 Network Rail Efficiency Award.[154] In the grand opening ceremony of St Pancras International, one of the Eurostar trains was given the name 'Tread Lightly', said to symbolise their smaller impact on the environment compared to planes. By 2008, Eurostar's environmental credentials had become highly developed and promoted.[156]

Since then, Eurostar has received multiple awards. It was declared the Best Train Company in the joint Guardian/Observer Travel Awards 2008[157] and earned a spot on the Sunday Times' Best Green Companies List (2009).[158] Other awards include: ICARUS’ Environmental Award for Best Rail Provider (2009),[159] Guardian & Observer Travel Award for Best Train Company (2009),[160] Travel Weekly's Golden Globes Award for Best Rail Operator (2010),[161] World Travel Market's Responsible Tourism Award for Best Low Carbon Initiative (2011),[162] TNT Magazine's Gold Backpack Award for Favourite Travel Transport (2012),[163] World Travel Awards Europe's Leading Passenger Rail Operator (2011),[164] National Rail Awards Train of the Year (2017),[165] PETA's Travel Award for Best Travel Experience (2019),[166] Mobile Industry Awards' Distributor of the Year (2020).[167]

Environmental initiatives

In 2007, Eurostar became the world's first carbon-neutral train service through its launch of "Tread Lightly," an environmental programme with the goal of reducing the service's carbon-dioxide emissions by 25% by 2012.[168][169] The programme included: reducing power consumption on its rolling stock; sourcing more electricity from lower-emission generators; adding new controls on lighting, heating, and air conditioning; reducing paper usage via electronic tickets; recycling water and employee uniforms; sourcing all food on board from Britain, France, or Belgium.[169] Eurostar also funded three renewable energy projects in developing regions around the world: a windfarm in Tamil Nadu, India; a micro-hydropower project in China; and a plan specifying improvements on fuel consumption of three-wheeler taxis in Indonesia.[168]

In 2019, Eurostar removed all single-use plastics from its trains between London and Paris.[170] Now the trains serve only wooden cutlery, recyclable cans of water, glass wine bottles, paper-based coffee cups, and eco-friendly food packaging.[170][171][172] Eurostar partnered with the Woodland Trust, ReforestAction, and Trees for All in 2020, with the goal of planting 20,000 trees each year in woodlands along its routes across the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Since Tread Lightly launched, Eurostar has reduced its carbon footprint by over 40% and now emits up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than the equivalent flight.[170][171][172]

Organisation

Further information: Eurostar International Limited

Since 2010, Eurostar has been operated by Eurostar International Limited (EIL), a company owned since April 2022 by Eurostar Group.

Railteam

Eurostar is a member of Railteam, a marketing alliance formed in July 2007 of seven European high-speed rail operators.[173] The alliance plans to allow tickets to be booked from one end of Europe to the other on a single website.[173] In June 2009 London and Continental Railways, and the Eurostar UK operations they held ownership of, became fully nationalised by the UK government.[174]

Domestic journeys

Eurostar is not permitted to carry passengers on journeys within a country, so passengers cannot travel (for example) from Lille to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy, London to Ashford, or Rotterdam to Amsterdam.[citation needed] Lille to Brussels is the only international intra-Schengen journey that Eurostar is offering for sale.[175]

Fleet

Fleet details

Europe

Class Image Type Top speed Carriages Number in use Unit numbers Routes operated Built
 km/h   mph 
PBA EMU trainset (fixed
formation with power
cars) 		300 186 Two power cars with 8 coaches between
them 		9 4532-4540
1996
PBKA 300 186 17
  • 4301-4307
  • 4331-4332
  • 4341-4346
1997

Cross-channel

Class Image Type Top speed Carriages Number in use Unit numbers Routes operated Built
mph km/h
Class 373
Eurostar e300
EMU trainset (fixed formation with power cars) 186 300 Two power cars with 18 coaches between them 12
  • 373001–373022
  • 373101–373108
  • 373201–373202
  • 373205–373224
  • 373229–373232
1992–1996
train diagram
Eurostar Class 373 in the original livery
Eurostar Class 373 in the new refurbished livery, giving them the "E300" name
Eurostar Class 373 in the new refurbished livery, giving them the "E300" name
Class 374
Eurostar e320 		EMU trainset (fixed formation without power cars) 200 320 16 self-powered coaches 17
  • 374001–374034
2011–2018
Eurostar Class 374 e320
Eurostar Class 374 e320

In addition to its multiple unit fleet units, Eurostar operates a single Class 08 diesel shunter as the pilot at Temple Mills depot.[176]

Current fleet

Class 373

Eurostar at London St Pancras International, London
Three Eurostar trains waiting at London St Pancras International station
Main article: British Rail Class 373

Built between 1992 and 1996, Eurostar's fleet consisted of 38 EMU trains, designated Class 373 in the United Kingdom and TGV TMST in France. The units have also been branded as the Eurostar e300 by Eurostar since 2015. There are two variants:

  • 31 "Inter-Capital" sets consisting of two power cars and eighteen passenger carriages. These trains are 394 m (1,293 ft) long and can carry 750 passengers: 206 in first class, 544 in standard class.[177]
  • Seven shorter "North of London" sets which have two power cars and fourteen passenger carriages and are 320 m (1,050 ft) long. These sets have a capacity of 558 seats: 114 first class, 444 standard and which were designed to operate the aborted Regional Eurostar services.

Each train has a unique four-digit number starting with "3" (3xxx). This designates the train as a Mark 3 TGV (Mark 1 being SNCF TGV Sud-Est; Mark 2 being SNCF TGV Atlantique). The second digit denotes the country of ownership:

  • 30xx UK
  • 31xx Belgium
  • 32xx France
  • 33xx Regional Eurostar

The trains are essentially modified TGV sets,[178][179] and can operate at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on high-speed lines, and 160 km/h (100 mph) in the Channel Tunnel.[61][62] It is possible to exceed the 300 km/h speed limit, but only with special permission from the safety authorities in the respective country.[180] Speed limits in the Channel Tunnel are dictated by air-resistance, energy (heat) dissipation and the need to be used with other, slower trains. The trains were designed with Channel Tunnel safety in mind, and consist of two independent "half-sets" each with its own power car.[28][62] In the event of a serious fire on board while travelling through the tunnel, passengers would be transferred into the undamaged half of the train, which would then be detached and driven out of the tunnel to safety.[181] If the undamaged part were the rear half of the train, this would be driven by the Chef du Train, who is a fully authorised driver and occupies the rear driving cab while the train travels through the tunnel for this purpose.[182]

As 27 of the 31 Inter-Capital sets were sufficient to operate the service, four were used by SNCF for domestic TGV services. The Eurostar logos were removed from these sets, but the base colours of white, black, and yellow remained.

As the Class 374 units have entered service the Class 373 fleet has gradually been reduced. 11 remain in regular service with 17 scrapped and 10 in store.

Fleet updates
Interior of a Leisure Select Eurostar carriage

In 2004–2005 the "Inter-Capital" sets still in daily use for international services were refurbished with a new interior designed by Philippe Starck.[5][183] The original grey-yellow scheme in Standard class and grey-red of First/Premium First were replaced with a grey-brown look in Standard and grey-burnt-orange in First class. Power points were added to seats in First class and coaches 5 and 14 in Standard class. Premium First class was renamed BusinessPremier.

In 2008, Eurostar announced that it would be carrying out a mid-life refurbishment of its Class 373 trains to allow the fleet to remain in service beyond 2020.[184] This will include the 28 units making up the Eurostar fleet, but not the three Class 373/1 units used by SNCF or the seven Class 373/2 "North of London" sets.[185] As part of the refurbishment, the Italian company Pininfarina was contracted to redesign the interiors,[186] and The Yard Creative was selected to design the new buffet cars.[187] On 11 May 2009 Eurostar revealed the new look for its first-class compartments.[188] The first refurbished train was due in service in 2012,[189] and Eurostar planned to complete the entire process by 2014. On 13 November 2014 Eurostar announced the first refurbished trains would not re-enter the fleet until the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2015 due to delays at the completion centre. The last refurbished e300 eventually re-entered service in April 2019.

Class 374

Main article: British Rail Class 374

In addition to the announced mid-life update of the existing Class 373 fleet, Eurostar in 2009 reportedly entered prequalification bids for eight new trainsets to be purchased.[190] Any new trains would need to meet the same safety rules governing passage through the Channel Tunnel as the existing Class 373 fleet. The replacement to the Class 373 trains has been decided jointly between the French Transport Ministry and the UK Department for Transport. The new trains will be equipped to use the new ERTMS in-cab signalling system, due to be fitted to High Speed 1 around 2040.[191]

Class 374 at Paris-Nord in Paris.

On 7 October 2010, it was reported that Eurostar had selected Siemens as preferred bidder to supply 10 Siemens Velaro e320[192] trainsets at a cost of €600 million (and a total investment of more than £700 million with the refurbishment of the existing fleet included)[193] to operate an expanded route network, including services from London to Cologne and Amsterdam.[194] These would be sixteen-car, 400 m (1,312 ft) long trainsets built to meet current Channel Tunnel regulations.[194] The top speed will be 320 km/h (200 mph) and they will have 894–950 seats, unlike the current fleet built by the French company Alstom, which has a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) and a seating capacity of 750. Total traction power will be rated at 16 MW.[192][195][196][197]

The nomination of Siemens would see it break into the French high-speed market for the first time, as all French and French subsidiary high-speed operators use TGV derivatives produced by Alstom.[198] Alstom attempted legal action to prevent Eurostar from acquiring German-built trains, claiming that the Siemens sets ordered would breach Channel Tunnel safety rules,[199] but this was thrown out of court.[200] Alstom said, after its High Court defeat, that it would "pursue alternative legal options to uphold its position". On 4 November 2010, the company lodged a complaint with the European Commission over the tendering process, which then asked the British government for "clarification".[201] Alstom then announced it had started legal action against Eurostar, again in the High Court in London.[202] In July 2011, the High Court rejected Alstom's claim that the tender process was "ineffective",[203] and in April 2012 Alstom said it would call off pending court actions against Siemens.[204] This effectively freed the way for Siemens to build the new Eurostar trains,[205] the first of which were expected to enter service in late 2015.[206][clarification needed]

On 13 November 2014 Eurostar announced the purchase of an additional seven e320s for delivery in the second half of 2016. At the same time, Eurostar announced the first five e320s from the original order of ten would be available by December 2015, with the remaining five entering service by May 2016. Of the five sets ready by December 2015, three of them were planned to be used on London-Paris and London-Brussels routes.[207]

Past fleet

Class Image Type Top speed Number
operated 		Notes
mph km/h
Class 37 Diesel locomotive 90 145 12 Intended to operate sleeper services over non-electrified parts of the railway network in Britain. Eurostar retained three locomotives for the rescue of failed trains, route learning and driver training, but sold them to Direct Rail Services when the new Temple Mills Depot opened in November 2007.[208]
Class 73 Electro-diesel locomotive 90 145 2 Were used primarily to rescue failed trains. Eurostar operated two of these from its North Pole depot until 2007, when they were loaned to a pair of educational initiatives having become redundant following the move to Temple Mills.[209][210]
Class 92 Electric locomotive 87 140 7 Intended to operate the Nightstar sleeper services. Eurostar owned seven units of this class, which never saw service until they were sold in 2007 to Europorte 2.[211]
Class 373 Eurostar e300 EMU 186 300 38 11 in operation, 10 in storage, 17 scrapped, 4 power cars preserved.

Possible use of double-deck trains

In 2005, the chief executive of Eurostar, Richard Brown, suggested that existing Eurostar trains could be replaced by double-deck trains similar to the TGV Duplex units when they are withdrawn from service. According to Brown, a double-deck fleet could carry 40 million passengers per year from Britain to Continental Europe, equivalent to adding an extra runway at a London airport.[212]

Accidents, incidents and events

A number of technical incidents have affected Eurostar services over the years, but up to the present there has only been one major accident involving a service operated by Eurostar, a derailment in June 2000. Other incidents in the Channel Tunnel – such as the 1996 and 2008 Channel Tunnel fires – have affected Eurostar services but were not directly related to Eurostar's operations. However, the breakdowns in the tunnel, which resulted in cessation of service and inconvenience to thousands of passengers, in the run-up to Christmas 2009, proved a public-relations disaster.[213]

Minor incidents

There have been several minor incidents with a few Eurostar services. In October 1994 there were teething problems relating to the start of operations. The first preview train, carrying 400 members of the press and media, was delayed for two hours by technical problems.[6][214][215][216] On 29 May 2002, a Eurostar train was initially sent down a wrong line – towards London Victoria railway station instead of Waterloo International – causing the service to arrive 25 minutes late. A signalling error that led to the incorrect routeing was stated to have caused "no risk" as a result.[217]

On 11 April 2006, a house collapsed next to a railway line near London which caused Eurostar services to have to terminate and start from Ashford International instead of Waterloo International. Passengers waiting at Waterloo International were initially directed on to local trains towards Ashford leaving from the adjacent London Waterloo East railway station, until overcrowding occurred at Ashford.[218]

1996

Approximately 1,000 passengers were trapped in darkness for several hours inside two Eurostar trains on the night of 19/20 February 1996. The trains stopped inside the tunnels due to electronic failures caused by snow and ice. Questions were raised at the time about the ability of the train and tunnel electronics to withstand the mix of snow, salt and ice which collect in the tunnels during periods of extreme cold.[219]

2000

On 5 June 2000, a Eurostar train travelling from Paris to London derailed on the LGV Nord high-speed line while traveling at 290 km/h (180 mph). Fourteen people were treated for light injuries or shock, with no fatalities or major injuries. The articulated nature of the trainset was credited with maintaining stability during the incident and all of the train stayed upright.[220] The incident was caused by a traction link on the second bogie of the front power car coming loose, leading to components of the transmission system on that bogie impacting the track.[214]

2007

The first departures from London St Pancras International on 14 November 2007 coincided with an open-ended strike by French rail unions as part of general strike actions over proposed public-sector pension reforms. The trains were operated by uninvolved British employees and service was not interrupted.[72]

2009

On 23 September 2009, an overhead power line dropped on to a Class 373 train arriving at London St Pancras International station, activating a circuit breaker and delaying 11 other trains.[221] Two days later, on 25 September 2009, electrical power via the overhead lines was lost on a section of high-speed line outside Lille, delaying passengers on two evening Eurostar-operated services.[222]

During the December 2009 European snowfall, five Eurostar trains broke down inside the Channel Tunnel, after leaving France, and one in Kent on 18 December. Although the trains had been winterised, the systems had not coped with the conditions.[223] Over 2,000 passengers were stuck inside failed trains inside the tunnel, and over 75,000 had their services disrupted.[224] All Eurostar services were cancelled from Saturday 19 December to Monday 21 December 2009.[225] An independent review, published on 12 February 2010, was critical of the contingency plans in place for assisting passengers stranded by the delays, calling them "insufficient".[226][227]

2010

On 7 January 2010, a Brussels-London train broke down in the Channel Tunnel,[228] resulting in three other trains failing to complete their journeys.[229] The cause of the failure was the onboard signalling system.[230] Due to the severe weather, a limited service was operated in the next few days.[231][232]

On 15 February 2010, services between Brussels and London were interrupted following the Halle train collision, this time after the dedicated HSL 1 lines in the suburbs of the Belgian capital were blocked by debris from a serious train crash on the suburban commuter lines alongside.[233] No efforts were made to reroute trains around the blockage; Eurostar instead terminated services to Brussels at Lille, directing passengers to continue their journey on local trains. Brussels services resumed on a limited scale on 22 February.

On 21 February 2010, the 21:43 service from Paris to London broke down just outside Ashford International,[234] stranding 740 passengers for several hours while a rescue train was called in.

On 15 April 2010, air traffic in Western Europe closed because of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Many travellers between the UK and the European mainland instead took the Eurostar train, all tickets between Brussels and London on 15 and 16 April being sold out within 3½ hours after the closure of British airspace. [235] Between 15 and 20 April, Eurostar put on 33 additional trains and carried 165,000 passengers – 50,000 more than had been scheduled to travel during this period.

On 20 December 2010, the Channel Tunnel was closed off for a day due to snowy weather. Eurostar services were suspended that day with thousands of passengers stranded in the run up to Christmas.

2011

On 17 October 2011, a man fell from the 17:04 service from London to Brussels as it passed through Westenhanger and Cheriton in Folkestone, near the entry to the Channel Tunnel.[236] The individual was an Albanian who had been refused entry to the United Kingdom and was voluntarily returning to Brussels. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The line was closed for several hours following the incident.[237] The train itself returned north to Ashford International, where passengers were transferred to a Eurostar service operating from Marne-la-Vallée to London.[237]

Future developments

Eurostar expansion

Eurostar and Thalys merged in 2023, with the intention to double combined passenger numbers from 14.8 million to 30 million.[1]

In an interview with Eurostar's former Chief Executive Nicolas Petrovic in the Financial Times in May 2012, an intention for cross-Channel Eurostar to serve ten new destinations was expressed, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Cologne, Lyon, Marseille and Geneva, along with a likely second hub to be created in Brussels.[238][239] London-Amsterdam services launched in 2018.

In March 2016, in an interview with Bloomberg, Eurostar's Chief Executive expressed interest in operating a direct train service between London and Bordeaux, but not before 2019. Journey time was said to be around 4.5 hours using the new LGV Sud Europe Atlantique.[240]

Operational difficulties with UK-Schengen trains

"We know we can go to most places in France physically, because our trains are compatible with French infrastructure, but then you've got to look at impact on fleet utilisation, you've got to have a station that's got the spare capacity to have a train stood for a number of hours, for all the security, screening, passport control passes. So it's not possible to go just anywhere. And you've got to be able to get the control authorities to agree that there's a big enough market for it to be worthwhile for them to set up there."

Richard Brown, former Chief Executive of Eurostar.[241]

Eurostar e300 trains, in their former livery at Brussels Midi/Zuid/South

The e320 trains allow Eurostar for the possibility of London to Germany services in the future. Due to the UK's not having signed up to the Schengen Agreement,[107] which allows unrestricted movement across borders of member countries, as well as different operational standards, expansion cross-Channel services is complex. For example, when the Amsterdam to London route began, it was direct in only one way, with people needing to get a train to Brussels to go through the juxtaposed controls; the direct connection was subject to talks between the UK and Dutch governments, and became completed in 2020 for services to start.

The difficulties that Eurostar faces in expanding its services would also be faced by any potential competitors to Eurostar. As the UK is outside the Schengen Agreement, London-bound trains must use platforms that are physically isolated,[181] a constraint which other international operators such as Thalys do not face. In addition, the British authorities are required to make passenger security and passport checks before they board the train,[242] which might deter domestic passengers. Compounding the difficulties in providing a similar service are the Channel Tunnel safety rules, the major ones being the "half-train rule" and the "length rule". The "half-train rule" stipulated that passenger trains had to be able to split in the case of emergency.[62] Class 373 trains were designed as two half-sets, which when coupled form a complete train, enabling them to be split easily in the event of an emergency while in the tunnel, with the unaffected set able to be driven out. The half-train rule was finally abolished in May 2010. However, the "length rule", which states that passenger trains must be at least 375 m (1,230 ft) long with a through corridor (to match the distance between the safety doors in the tunnel), was retained, preventing any potential operators from applying to run services with existing fleets – the majority of both TGV and ICE trains are only 200 m (660 ft) long.[243]

Competition

Further information: High Speed 1 § Future operations
DB ICE 3 service, similiar to which was displayed in London

Following the liberalisation of international rail travel by European Union directives in 2010, [244][245] various operators have announced proposals for competition with Eurostar.

Deutsche Bahn (DB) intended to run services between London to Frankfurt and Amsterdam (two of the biggest air travel markets in Europe), with trains 'splitting & joining' in Brussels. In July 2010, DB announced that it intended to make a test run with a high-speed ICE-3MF train through the Channel Tunnel in October 2010 in preparation for possible future operations.[246] The trial ran on 19 October 2010 with a Class 406 ICE train specially liveried with a British "Union flag" decal. The train was then put on display for the press at London St Pancras International. However, this was not the class of train planned for the proposed service, instead proposing to use Class 407 ICE units, specially adapted for stronger Channel Tunnel safety standards.

DB scrapped the plan, mainly due to advance passport check requirements. DB had hoped that immigration checks could be done on board, but British authorities required immigration and security checks to be done at Lille-Europe station, taking at least 30 minutes.[115]

In 2021, Renfe, the national operator of Spain announced it was proposing competing London to Paris services.[247] In 2022, Getlink, the owner of the Channel Tunnel had reportedly considered purchasing trains suitable for competing services, leasing them to rival operations.[248], while in 2023, Mobico Group, the owner of National Express has also been reported to be considering cross-Channel services named 'Evoyln'.[249][250]

Long term possibilities

Stratford International station

Eurostar service passing Stratford International

Eurostar trains do not currently call at Stratford International, which was intended to be a London stop for the regional Eurostars when the station was constructed.[251] This was to be reviewed following the 2012 Olympics.[252] However, in 2013, Eurostar claimed that its 'business would be hit' by stopping trains there.[253]

Regional Eurostar

Main article: Regional Eurostar

Although the original plan for Regional Eurostar services to destinations north of London was abandoned,[25] the significantly improved journey times available since the opening of High Speed 1 — which is physically connected to both the East Coast Main Line and the North London Line (for the West Coast Main Line) at London St Pancras International – and the increased maximum speeds on the West Coast Main Line since the 2000s may make potential Regional Eurostar services more commercially viable. This would be even more likely if proposals are adopted for a new high-speed line from London to the north of Britain.[254] Simon Montague, Eurostar's Director of Communications, commented that: "...International services to the regions are only likely once High Speed 2 is built."[255] However, as of 2014 the current plans for High Speed 2 do not allow for a direct rail link between that new line, and High Speed 1, meaning passengers would still be required to change at London Euston and take some form of transportation to London St Pancras International.[256]

Key pieces of infrastructure still belong to LCR via its subsidiary London & Continental Stations and Property, such as the Manchester International Depot, and Eurostar (UK) still owns several track access rights and the rights to paths on both the East Coast Main Line and the West Coast Main Line.[257][258] While no announcement has been made of plans to start Regional Eurostar services, it remains a possibility for the future. In the meantime, the closest equivalent to Regional Eurostar services are same-station connections with East Midlands Railway and Thameslink, changing at London St Pancras International. The construction of a new concourse at adjacent London King's Cross improved interchange with St Pancras and provided London North Eastern Railway, Great Northern, Hull Trains and Grand Central services with easier connections to Eurostar.

LGV Picardie

Main article: LGV Picardie

LGV Picardie is a proposed high-speed line between Paris and Calais via Amiens. By cutting off the corner of the LGV Nord at Lille, it would enable Eurostar trains to save 20 minutes on the journey between Paris and Calais, bringing the London–Paris journey time under 2 hours. In 2008 the French Government announced its future investment plans for new LGVs to be built up to 2020; LGV Picardie was not included but was listed as planned in the longer term.[259]

Notes

  1. ^ Eurostar uses the airlines' definition of 'on-time': within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival time. The measure used for long-distance services in the UK rail industry is within ten minutes

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Bibliography

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