Eurostar Introduction

• Eurostar is the high-speed rail service directly linking the UK to France and Belgium via the Channel Tunnel. It started operating in 1994, providing city centre to city centre services.
• Eurostar launched services from its new London station, St. Pancras International, on 14th November 2007 with the completion of the second section of the UK’s first high-speed line. Services to/from Waterloo International ended on 13th November 2007. Following the move Eurostar’s fastest journey times fell with London-Paris now taking 2 hours 15 minutes, London-Brussels, 1 hour 51 minutes and London-Lille just 1 hour 20 minutes.
• Eurostar runs up to 18 services to Paris and nine to Brussels daily. In addition, up to nine trains stop at Lille in northern France, and up to three services stop at Calais Frethun en route.
• On 19th November 2007 Eurostar launched services from Ebbsfleet International. Ideally located just off Junction 2 of the M25, close to Bluewater Shopping Centre and the Dartford Crossing, Ebbsfleet International enjoys up to five daily services to Paris and four to Brussels. Ashford International has three daily services to Paris, a daily service to Brussels, a service to Disneyland Paris on all days except Tuesdays and Saturdays (including a stop at Lille Europe) as well as seasonal services to Avignon and the French Alps.

Beyond Paris and Brussels

• There are direct services each day (except Tuesdays and Saturdays) from London and Ashford International to the gates of Disneyland® Paris and, during the winter holiday season, Eurostar operates two services every week from London and Ashford International to Moutiers and Bourg St Maurice in the French Alps. Eurostar also runs a direct service to Avignon in Provence on Saturdays during the summer.
• In addition, Eurostar offers connecting tickets to over 100 destinations across France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. For example, Lyon can be reached in five hours from London and Marseille in six and a half hours.
• Brussels Midi is the gateway for the Netherlands and Germany with easy connections to Amsterdam (about five hours from London) and Cologne (about five hours).
• Eurostar also offers through fares from over 200 towns and cities across Britain to Paris, Brussels and Disneyland Resort Paris as well as 75 connecting destinations across France with return fares starting from only £67.
• Eurostar's ticket prices vary to meet all budgets. Leisure travellers enjoy the cheapest fares - with lead-in fares from £69 return.
• Since starting operations in November 1994, Eurostar has more than doubled the total number of passengers travelling (by air or rail) between London and Paris/Brussels.
• In September 2003, Eurostar began carrying guide dogs on its services from London to Paris and Brussels. In April 2005, Eurostar began carrying other assistance dogs.

Setting new standards for international train travel

• Eurostar has been at the leading edge of innovation in the rail industry, setting new standards for travel by train. It was one of the first rail operators to introduce business lounges and a loyalty programme.
• It offers a number of advantages over other forms of transport. These include:
  
  - Seamless city centre to city centre travel
  - Frequency of services
  - Greater punctuality in service than competitors
  - Comfort and space
  - Time efficiency - door to door journey times are faster than air
  - Cost competitiveness
  - Fast and convenient check-in. 10 minute check-in for Business Premier passengers.
  - Arrival in city centre, no queues, no baggage reclaim.
  - Transparent and generous compensation policy, in the event of delay or cancellation
  - Benefits for regular users as part of Eurostar Frequent Traveller loyalty scheme, including free travel as well as offers from a range of exclusive partners chosen to give a flavour of Eurostar's destinations.
  
  
  
• Independent research commissioned by Eurostar has shown that, per passenger journey, flying between London and Paris or Brussels generates ten times more carbon dioxide emissions than taking Eurostar.
• As part of the ‘Tread Lightly’ environment programme Eurostar has already reduced its carbon emissions by 25% per traveller journey and now has a revised target to reduce emissions by 35% by 2012. This will be achieved through a number of schemes which aim to reduce, re-use and recycle resources.