beautifulplanet
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Already more than 2 weeks ago, a new high-speed rail service in Europe was announced starting next year:
Eurostar high-speed rail will offer daily service from London to Marseille, with a travel time of just 6h 15mins.
Sun-seekers from Britain and other travelers can hop on at London St. Pancras, and look out the window to see South of England and France from North to all the way to the South zooming by, in order to arrive in Marseille in the sunshine without even once leaving their seat.
Up to now, trips from London to Marseille required a transfer in France, making it more inconvenient and taking longer. On the way, the high-speed service will bypass the city center of Paris in order to save time, but it will stop in Lyon (travel time from London just 4 and a half hours) and Avignon (6 hour travel time).
As the United Kingdom is a member of the European Union (at least for now until the referendum), but is not a member of the Schengen agreement yet, travel onto the island requires an immigration check. So coming back towards the UK with the new service the travel times will be up to an hour longer, because of customs and immigration taking place at Lille (at least as long as Lyon, Avignon and Marseille train stations don't offer customs and immigration services). Many might be happy to hear that the new service will not be seasonal, but offered year-round.
The first train departs on May 1, 2015, and booking the new service should be possible starting upcoming December.
Already in the past Eurostar offered summer service to Avignon, still many might think this link to Marseille could prove to become a popular route, especially since it is offered year-round.
In the past when still having to transfer in order to get to Marseille from London, Eurostar offered specials sometimes as cheap as 69 British Pounds (approx. US$115) for a round-trip.
To some, this seemed like an amazing value since f.e. with Acela the cheapest one-way fare is $171, for travelling approx. 440mi within 6 and a half hours. The Eurostar offer included travelling approx. 780mi, in 6h 45mins, for effectively $63 one-way (half of $115 round-trip). Some might think that as it is about the distance from Providence to Charlotte - in 6h 45mins and for effectively $63 one-way - it is indeed a good value. Now many might be curious to see how the pricing for the direct service London to Marseille will be. Eurostar already announced that there will be specials for companies and business travelers.
Simon Calder of the Independent had more details about the new train service:
Trains to Europe on track at last
Saturday 02 August 2014
by Simon Calder
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/simon-calder-trains-to-europe-on-track-at-last-9641467.html
When in that article "load factors" and "thousands of empty seats" are mentioned, it might be helpful to know that Eurostar is a profitable high-speed rail company, and that its load factor is comparatively higher than that of other profitable rail companies.
F.e. Eurostar's load factor improved from 50% in 2007 to 64% in 2009, and increased even more to 70% afterwards.
At the same time, by many analysts, load factor is not seen as a key indicator for Eurostar as it is with airlines.
In addition, the load factor not being 90% on average in conjunction with the 33 inch seat pitch in standard class as well as 37 inch in standard premier leads to a comparatively better travel experience than f.e. that of low-cost airlines which in Europe often use a seat pitch of 29 inches and due to their business model can be very, very crowded.
As well as with Eurostar, all adult customers don't need to pay anything for bringing up to 2 pieces of luggage and one small item on board, while with Europe's low-fare airlines only hand luggage is free and already the first checked bag in peak travel seasons can easily cost 50 British Pounds (approx. US$84) round-trip.
Many might be looking forward to next spring's new travel option and come to the conclusion that once again, despite any political proceedings, Europe seems to grow closer together.
Eurostar high-speed rail will offer daily service from London to Marseille, with a travel time of just 6h 15mins.
Sun-seekers from Britain and other travelers can hop on at London St. Pancras, and look out the window to see South of England and France from North to all the way to the South zooming by, in order to arrive in Marseille in the sunshine without even once leaving their seat.
Up to now, trips from London to Marseille required a transfer in France, making it more inconvenient and taking longer. On the way, the high-speed service will bypass the city center of Paris in order to save time, but it will stop in Lyon (travel time from London just 4 and a half hours) and Avignon (6 hour travel time).
As the United Kingdom is a member of the European Union (at least for now until the referendum), but is not a member of the Schengen agreement yet, travel onto the island requires an immigration check. So coming back towards the UK with the new service the travel times will be up to an hour longer, because of customs and immigration taking place at Lille (at least as long as Lyon, Avignon and Marseille train stations don't offer customs and immigration services). Many might be happy to hear that the new service will not be seasonal, but offered year-round.
The first train departs on May 1, 2015, and booking the new service should be possible starting upcoming December.
Already in the past Eurostar offered summer service to Avignon, still many might think this link to Marseille could prove to become a popular route, especially since it is offered year-round.
In the past when still having to transfer in order to get to Marseille from London, Eurostar offered specials sometimes as cheap as 69 British Pounds (approx. US$115) for a round-trip.
To some, this seemed like an amazing value since f.e. with Acela the cheapest one-way fare is $171, for travelling approx. 440mi within 6 and a half hours. The Eurostar offer included travelling approx. 780mi, in 6h 45mins, for effectively $63 one-way (half of $115 round-trip). Some might think that as it is about the distance from Providence to Charlotte - in 6h 45mins and for effectively $63 one-way - it is indeed a good value. Now many might be curious to see how the pricing for the direct service London to Marseille will be. Eurostar already announced that there will be specials for companies and business travelers.
Simon Calder of the Independent had more details about the new train service:
Trains to Europe on track at last
Saturday 02 August 2014
by Simon Calder
http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/simon-calder-trains-to-europe-on-track-at-last-9641467.html
When in that article "load factors" and "thousands of empty seats" are mentioned, it might be helpful to know that Eurostar is a profitable high-speed rail company, and that its load factor is comparatively higher than that of other profitable rail companies.
F.e. Eurostar's load factor improved from 50% in 2007 to 64% in 2009, and increased even more to 70% afterwards.
At the same time, by many analysts, load factor is not seen as a key indicator for Eurostar as it is with airlines.
In addition, the load factor not being 90% on average in conjunction with the 33 inch seat pitch in standard class as well as 37 inch in standard premier leads to a comparatively better travel experience than f.e. that of low-cost airlines which in Europe often use a seat pitch of 29 inches and due to their business model can be very, very crowded.
As well as with Eurostar, all adult customers don't need to pay anything for bringing up to 2 pieces of luggage and one small item on board, while with Europe's low-fare airlines only hand luggage is free and already the first checked bag in peak travel seasons can easily cost 50 British Pounds (approx. US$84) round-trip.
Many might be looking forward to next spring's new travel option and come to the conclusion that once again, despite any political proceedings, Europe seems to grow closer together.