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| About Eurostar |
What Is Eurostar?
Eurostar is a high-speed train service connecting London and Kent in the United Kingdom with Paris and Lille in France, and Brussels in Belgium. Services from London to Disneyland Resort Paris and other seasonal destinations in France are also available. Eurostar is run by a consortium of French Railways (SNCF), Belgian Railways (SNCB) and Eurostar UK Ltd. The service is operated by 18-carriage Class 373 trains that travel up to speeds of 300 kph (186 mph) on a network of high-speed lines. Trains cross the English Channel between the UK and France through the Channel Tunnel, traversing a distance of 495 km (307 miles) in as little as 2 hours 15 minutes.
Since its establishment in November 1994, Eurostar has taken on a dominant position in the market on the routes it serves. New were built in Belgium (HSL 1) and Southern England (High Speed 1) to the same standard as the LGV Nord line in France, enabling journey times to be reduced considerably. This two stage High Speed 1 project was completed in November 2007, when the London terminus of Eurostar transferred from Waterloo International to St. Pancras International Station.
Journey times with Eurostar match or beat flights, thereby making it a viable alternative air travel for holidays in Europe. Fares include the price of the ticket and seat reservation. Meals are included for Business Premier and First Class travellers and are served with metal cutlery and complimentary half-bottles of wine. The service is non-smoking.
Why Eurostar?
In the first half of 2008, 92.6% of all Eurostar trains arrived on time or within 15 minutes of their scheduled times, compared to just 62.3% for short-haul flights on the same route. If you’re travelling from Central London to Central Paris, then Eurostar is faster than flying, as well as more comfortable and convenient. It is no surprise that Eurostar has captured over 70% of the London-Paris market from airlines.
The basic cost of an air ticket may be lower than a Eurostar ticket. But add on airport taxes, the cost of commuting between the city and the airport (departure and arrival ends), and the various snacks/drinks that you are likely to buy on the way, you’d be hard pushed to do the trip for less than with Eurostar. Travelling by air will also take you much longer and won’t be half as pleasant.
Eurostar has commissioned independent research estimating that a trip from London to Paris on a Eurostar train emits 11 kg of carbon dioxide per passenger, more than ten times less than the 122 kg per passenger emitted by a London-Paris flight. In addition, planes emit the gas directly into the upper atmosphere, thereby doing 2.5 times the damage of the same gas emitted at ground level. Furthermore, Eurostar has committed itself to reducing its emissions by 25% by 2012. |
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