tell me about eurostar

[hash tag]

Meanwhile, they literally announced yesterday that they’ll cut airport duty on internal flights in the U.K. it’s absolute nonsense why flying should be cheaper than taking the train for domestic travel in a countries as small as the U.K./Spain

It is madness. I imagine some of the greatest users of internal flights are ministers.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Meanwhile, they literally announced yesterday that they’ll cut airport duty on internal flights in the U.K. it’s absolute nonsense why flying should be cheaper than taking the train for domestic travel in a countries as small as the U.K./Spain

It's a sop to Northern Ireland, from where, tbf it is quite hard to get a train to London.

 

[Elpenor]

I guess an attempt to level up an unequal playing field as it was cheaper from an APD perspective to fly to Munich than Manchester.

Probably a major reason why Fly(may)Be failed as they were largely domestic. A lot of their routes were not very feasible by train. Oddly I don’t think Loganair who handle the flights to Scottish islands had the same issue but maybe they get more government grants?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I guess an attempt to level up an unequal playing field as it was cheaper from an APD perspective to fly to Munich than Manchester.

Probably a major reason why Fly(may)Be failed as they were largely domestic. A lot of their routes were not very feasible by train. Oddly I don’t think Loganair who handle the flights to Scottish islands had the same issue but maybe they get more government grants?

Something about lifeline air services grants for Loganair.

 

[Elpenor]

Not stopped them picking up some FlyBe’s old routes I think - I’m sure I’ve seen a few loganair planes at EXE

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Oh good lord, Budget 2021: Rishi Sunak denies air duty cuts will spark flying boom

it has led to accusations from opposition politicians and environmentalists that thousands more people will take to the skies...claims that the move would lead to 400,000 more domestic flights a year.

It's less than seven quid off a flight.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Not stopped them picking up some FlyBe’s old routes I think - I’m sure I’ve seen a few loganair planes at EXE

Yeah, places like Newcastle from Exeter, >6 hours by train, 1 hour by plane.

Will be flying with them myself in a couple of weeks, again a 1 hour flight vs ~6 hours train, when it comes to timescales like that the train is the preserve of the wealthy elite.

 

[Elpenor]

Wouldn’t mind a daily mid morning Exeter to Heathrow flight, timed right it could pick up connections from the early morning arrivals into Heathrow and give onward connections to all the long haul destinations.

Suspect Newquay would get more political support though.

 

[mx wcfc]

Not stopped them picking up some FlyBe’s old routes I think - I’m sure I’ve seen a few loganair planes at EXE

They've picked up a bunch of routes from Southampton Airport too. Handy if I need to pop up to Aberdeen.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Wouldn’t mind a daily mid morning Exeter to Heathrow flight, timed right it could pick up connections from the early morning arrivals into Heathrow and give onward connections to all the long haul destinations.

Suspect Newquay would get more political support though.

If Heathrow had a meaningful train station it could be connected to GWR's network and HS2 and you wouldn't need so many domestic flights. For Exeter having to train it to Paddington, change with your luggage and wait on a train west, or for Manchester to train (+ currently tube) it to Euston means that a connecting flight is a more attractive proposition.

 

[Dogsauce]

Oh good lord, Budget 2021: Rishi Sunak denies air duty cuts will spark flying boom



It's less than seven quid off a flight.

If it’s only seven quid why bother cutting it at all? Most will be business travel, and it’s not like the government needs to be cutting taxes right now.

 

[mx wcfc]

If it’s only seven quid why bother cutting it at all? Most will be business travel, and it’s not like the government needs to be cutting taxes right now.

He did it to help regional airports. If it won't lead to a flying boom, what was the point? Other than a clear signal to COP26 that they don't give a fuck?

I've seen the argument that it helps Belfast. They have an 80 seat majority. They don't give a fuck about the DUP either.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

It’s a signal that they care about the union.

 

[dessiato]

Just seen this on a local news site

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Spanish train company to challenge Eurostar

<span Style='color:#780948'>archived</span> - Spanish Train Company To Challenge Eurostar Keep up with the Latest News In English from around Spain

spanishnewstoday.com

 

[hash tag]

Oh Des, seems like you missed that one

Looks like there could be some competition (finally) for the London-Paris route from Spanish operator Renfe in the future

Spanish operator Renfe to operate Paris – London service to rival Eurostar - City AM

Renfe is reportedly seeking to operate a new service between Paris and London, initiating talks with the Spanish ministry of Finance.

www.cityam.com

 

[Bus Honeygun]

There's a bit more about the possibility of RENFE or other open access operators running through the tunnel here:

How Getlink wants to clear a hurdle for new operators to run trains through the Channel Tunnel

Eurostar has been the single passenger railway operator in the Channel Tunnel since the opening in 1994, but the tracks are significantly underused. That to the dismay of…

www.railtech.com

And EU approves Thalys/Eurostar merger, which will move the HQ from London to Brussels:

Eurostar-Thalys merger on track, as EU gives approval

Expanding rail travel is part of the EU’s broader goal of curbing emissions from transport.

www.politico.eu

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

There's a bit more about the possibility of RENFE or other open access operators running through the tunnel here:

How Getlink wants to clear a hurdle for new operators to run trains through the Channel Tunnel

Eurostar has been the single passenger railway operator in the Channel Tunnel since the opening in 1994, but the tracks are significantly underused. That to the dismay of…

www.railtech.com

And EU approves Thalys/Eurostar merger, which will move the HQ from London to Brussels:

Eurostar-Thalys merger on track, as EU gives approval

Expanding rail travel is part of the EU’s broader goal of curbing emissions from transport.

www.politico.eu

Hoping RENFE fucks Eurostar over, they have been going to shit for years, their onboard product sucks and their booking systems are awful and a total rip off. All that happens when you have a monopoly I guess. Not sure how RENFE could squeeze more passengers through St Pancras though, at busy times the place just can't cope at all, will mean Eurostar having to scale back...

 

[Bus Honeygun]

Not sure how RENFE could squeeze more passengers through St Pancras though, at busy times the place just can't cope at all, will mean Eurostar having to scale back...

Yeah, I wondered about that, unless 'London' is the HS2 station at Old Oak or Ebbsfleet International or somewhere.

 

[Elpenor]

Or Stratford? Straight on to Crossrail for the city / west end, could be a smart move

 

[teuchter]

Eurostar abandoning Ebbsfleet & Ashford for at least a couple of years:

Eurostar services may not stop in Kent before 2025

The decision not to call at Ashford or Ebbsfleet is described as a "real challenge" for Kent.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[skyscraper101]

Was having a discussion with a NY based colleague who was over here in the London office this week and they was going on saying how they'd be in Europe every other weekend if they lived here and could just 'get the train' until I pointed out by visibly demonstrating with the booking system, how expensive getting a return to Paris is on the Eurostar. Almost as much as a return flight to NY.

 

[Spymaster]

Was having a discussion with a NY based colleague who was over here in the London office this week and they was going on saying how they'd be in Europe every other weekend if they lived here and could just 'get the train' until I pointed out by visibly demonstrating with the booking system, how expensive getting a return to Paris is on the Eurostar. Almost as much as a return flight to NY.

They could fly though. Even now when cut price air travel is supposedly a thing of the past, Ryanair are doing return trips to the South of France for 40 quid in October.

That's the cost of a bottle of Champagne on the Eurostar.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Quite enjoyed the Eurostar compared to flying, though I was surprised how fucking grotty Brussels station is.

The waiting areas are also a bit cramped, especially on this side, but still better than any airport security I've been through.

 

[skyscraper101]

They could fly though. Even now when cut price air travel is supposedly a thing of the past, Ryanair are doing return trips to the South of France for 40 quid in October.

That's the cost of a bottle of Champagne on the Eurostar.

Which is exactly what I did the last time I went to Paris. It's shameful how much of a discrepancy there is still.

 

[Elpenor]

That’s a shame.

Wonder if they’ll reinstate the Marseille route (which stopped at Ashford) for next year as I’m off there for the Rugby World Cup.

Wouldn’t mind knowing shortly as BA flights are on sale from Heathrow next month at T-355

 

[ouirdeaux]

Eurostar is wonderful, if you can get a cheap seat. Rock up at St Pancras early in the morning, and you're in Amsterdam in a few hours, no airport faff.

If you miss the cheap seats, the cost is just silly. So people use other methods of travel.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Eurostar is wonderful, if you can get a cheap seat. Rock up at St Pancras early in the morning, and you're in Amsterdam in a few hours, no airport faff.

If you miss the cheap seats, the cost is just silly. So people use other methods of travel.

The cheapest I've seen is about 60-70 quid and they do go fast.

Still want to take the train out to Avignon and do some exploring for a few days at some point.

 

[Spymaster]

Eurostar is wonderful, if you can get a cheap seat. Rock up at St Pancras early in the morning, and you're in Amsterdam in a few hours, no airport faff.

If you miss the cheap seats, the cost is just silly. So people use other methods of travel.

Like all train travel in this country, it's only decent value if you travel when they want you to, or get lucky.

Try to pick your own dates and more often than not you'll get fucked.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Was talking about this yesterday, they won't ever go back to Ashford, they only went there in the first place to appease the Kentish folk for having HS1 in their back yard. Ebbsfleet is a surprise though, that serves a useful purpose, but guess with how busy Eurostar is currently there's no need.

If you want cheap, Vueling or Easyjet from Gatwick is where its at, especially within 48 hours of travel.

 

[SysOut]

Train-boat-train.
When the journey is as much a pleasure as the destination.
You can also get off and continue with the next train if you're using the normal trains.
Completely different atmosphere.
The Eurostar people never understood trains - they came out of the airline business.