Eurostar Train Guide
This guide shows you all you need to know about the Eurostar train, including the travel classes, onboard service, and how to buy tickets.
If you’re curious about what it’s like to travel with Eurostar between the UK, France, Belgium, and beyond, keep reading to find out what to expect on board!
About Eurostar
Eurostar is best known for operating high-speed trains through the Channel Tunnel, connecting London with Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. The company also runs high-speed trains on the European continent. These are Burgundy-red high-speeds train formerly branded as Thalys, which are now also branded as Eurostar services after thee company managed to acquire Thalys.
Although Eurostar is almost synonymous with train travel between the UK and mainland Europe, the company itself is not British. Its main shareholder is SNCF (French Railways), with smaller shares held by Belgian Railways (SNCB) and private investors.
Eurostar cross-Channel routes
The following routes through the Channel Tunnel are currently operated by Eurostar:
- Paris – London
- Brussels – London
- Amsterdam & Rotterdam – London
Some of the trains between Brussels and London make an intermediate stop in Lille, while trains linking Amsterdam and Rotterdam with London also call at Brussels.
If you take a Eurostar high-speed train to or from the UK, you must check in at the dedicated Eurostar terminal at your departure station. This simply involves scanning your ticket to enter the secure area.
Next, you go through a security check — unlike at airports, there are no restrictions on liquids — followed by passport control and customs. Both exit and entry checks are completed before departure. For example, when travelling from Paris to London, you first go through French passport control to exit the Schengen Zone, followed by UK passport control conducted by British border officers to enter the UK. Afterwards, you wait in the departures area until your train is called for boarding, then board your Eurostar. You take all your luggage with you on board and store it in the luggage racks or overhead bins in your carriage.
On arrival in London St Pancras, you simply disembark as you would from any domestic train, as all border checks were already completed before departure. The same process applies in reverse when travelling from London to Paris or Brussels, with French border officers checking passports at St Pancras for entry into the Schengen Zone.
Due to these security and passport checks, you must arrive at least 30 minutes before departure (15 to 20 minutes for Eurostar Premier passengers and Carte Blanche loyalty cardholders) as otherwise you won’t be able to check in. However, it is advisable to arrive 1 to 1.5 hours in advance to allow enough time for all formalities.
Eurostar (formerly Thalys) routes
On the European continent, Eurostar also runs high-speed trains between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, which were previously branded as Thalys services. These routes are:
- Paris – Brussels – Antwerp – Rotterdam – Amsterdam
- Paris – Brussels – Liege – Aachen – Cologne – Dusseldorf – Duisburg – Essen – Dortmund
For these Eurostar high-speed trains, there is no check-in or security check at the station, so in theory, you can arrive just a few minutes before departure. However, it is advisable to be there earlier. Simply check the screens for your departure platform, walk there, find your numbered coach where your reserved seat is, and board the train — it’s not much different from taking a commuter service!
Travel classes
On Eurostar high-speed trains, there are three travel classes:
- Eurostar Standard (comparable to 2nd class)
- Eurostar Plus (comparable to 1st class)
- Eurostar Premier (a premium first class, tailored for business travellers or affluent leisure travellers seeking a more luxurious experience)
Seating in Standard is arranged two-abreast (2+2 on either side of the aisle), while both Plus and Premier feature a 1+2 seat configuration. Although the seats in Plus and Premier are the same, Premier offers the added benefits of fully flexible and refundable tickets, fast track security, as well as access to Eurostar lounges in Paris, London, or Brussels before departure on cross-Channel routes.
On-board service
There is a significant difference in Eurostar’s on-board service between the cross-Channel trains to and from London and the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains operating between France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany.
When travelling in Eurostar Premier to or from London, you’ll be served a complimentary hot meal along with a premium selection of wines, champagne, and a variety of hot and cold drinks. In Eurostar Plus on routes to and from London, you can look forward to a complimentary cold meal with a drink (wine, beer, or soft drink), along with bottled water and tea or coffee. In Eurostar Plus on routes to and from London, there are no complimentary drinks or snacks, as these can only be purchased from the café-bar coach on each train. Of course, you are welcome to bring your own food and drinks, regardless of the class you’re travelling in.
On the Eurostar (formerly Thalys) trains connecting France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, service standards are generally lower across all travel classes. In Eurostar Premier, passengers typically receive a light meal with wine, tea, or coffee between Paris and Brussels, while a snack with a drink is provided between Brussels and Amsterdam or Cologne. On these routes, passengers travelling in Eurostar Plus do not get any complimentary meals or drinks, and just like passengers in Eurostar Standard have to bring their own snacks or drinks on board, or buy them from vending machines on the train.
On-board facilities
All Eurostar trains offer complimentary Wi-Fi across all classes. Additionally, power sockets are available at every seat, regardless of the travel class. Note that on cross-Channel trains to and from London, power outlets alternate between UK-style 3-pin sockets and European 2-pin sockets, so it’s a good idea to bring a travel adapter.
Stations
Eurostar’s hub in Paris is Gare du Nord, the city’s main northern railway station. In London, it operates from the magnificent Victorian-era St Pancras station, while in Brussels, services run to and from Brussels South. Note that in French, the station of Brussels South is known as Gare de Bruxelles-Midi, while in Dutch, it’s known as Station Brussel-Zuid. In Lille, Eurostar uses the railway station of Lille Europe.
In other cities, the trains simply call at the central station, such as Amsterdam Centraal (often abbreviated as Amsterdam CS) in the Dutch capital and Köln Hauptbahnhof (Köln Hbf on station signs and timetables) in Cologne.
UK connections to and from the Eurostar
If you’re catching the Eurostar to Paris or Brussels but starting your journey from a station outside of London, it’s worth looking into London International CIV fares. These special tickets allow you to travel at an affordable rate from nearly any station in Great Britain to London when connecting to the Eurostar. Similarly, you can book a London International CIV fare if you’re travelling on the Eurostar to London but plan to take a connecting train to another English destination.
These tickets can be an excellent way to save money compared to the often expensive regular fares charged by British train operators. They are fixed-price and can even be purchased on the day of travel. Plus, if your train is delayed, you’re covered and can take the next available Eurostar free of charge.
For more details on these great-value tickets and how to buy them, check the London International CIV page.