Eurostar restores faster services through the Channel Tunnel and normal timetable from 23 February 2009
Adapted timetable for trains running from 23 February until 11 March: please check Eurostar.com for exact timings
-Journey times return to Brussels-London 1h51
-Services increased and departure times improved
-Direct service Brussels-Ashford
-Excellent punctuality record will improve further
Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train service that links Belgium and France to the UK, announced today (19 January) that it will be operating services on its normal timetable from Monday 23 February 2009, with the fastest journey time of 1h51 to London, and up to 10 trains a day.
The return to a full Eurostar service follows the announcement by Eurotunnel, the owner and operator of the Channel Tunnel, that repairs to the tunnel section known as “Interval-6” will be completed by 10 February. This allows Eurostar to plan and implement the switchover from its current reduced timetable.
Between 10 and 22 February, Eurostar will continue to operate its existing departure times, with some trains likely to arrive earlier than currently timetabled.
From 23 February Eurostar will return to a normal timetable with all services operating at full speed, and fastest non-stop journey times of Brussels – London 1h51, Paris – London 2h15, and Lille – London 1h20.
There will be more trains per day, with up to 10 on the Brussels - London route and up to 19 on the route Paris - London. With the return to full tunnel capacity, the optimum pattern of departure times will be restored, removing gaps in the current timetable which have been caused by the reduced tunnel capacity. This means most trains from Brussels depart earlier, giving business travellers extra time to do business or to enjoy the city. The exact timings of the trains can be found on eurostar.com.
In addition, a new direct Brussels – Ashford service will begin on 23 February, having been delayed since last December by the tunnel incident. Furthermore, there will also be a direct Brussels – Calais service on Saturdays and a Calais – Brussels service on Sundays.
Richard Brown, Chief Executive, Eurostar said, “We’re delighted that Eurostar is returning to its normal high-speed journey times, with the centre of Brussels, Paris and Lille and London respectively only 1h51, 2h15 and 1h20 apart. This is great news for our travellers, speeding up business trips and making leisure breaks to the Continent even more attractive.
“Eurotunnel has done an impressive job to complete the repairs in such a short time, given the scale of the endeavour and the logistics of working within the tunnel space”.
- ends –
Notes to Editors:
1. Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.
2. Under its Tread Lightly environmental plan, Eurostar has set a target of reducing its CO2 emissions by 25% per traveller journey by 2012. Because emissions cannot yet be eliminated, Eurostar is also the world’s first train operator to make all journeys carbon neutral, at no extra cost to travellers. Research commissioned by Eurostar has shown that a Eurostar journey between London and Paris/Brussels generates one-tenth of the carbon dioxide of an equivalent flight.
3. Eurostar arrives in St Pancras International, the new terminal in the heart of London. The Victorian station St Pancras International, which is connected by six Underground lines, has been entirely renovated and is now a new London hub in itself, complete with a shopping arcade and many restaurants and bars. The fastest journey time between Brussels and London is now 1h51*, between Lille and London 1h20* and between Paris and London 1h51*.
4. Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.
5. Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies. Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates a vehicle shuttle service and the Channel tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.
6. For more information and bookings: go to eurostar.com, or call 02 528 28 28, in the SNCB stations with international ticket sales desks or in the travel agencies.
* fastest journey time
-Journey times return to Brussels-London 1h51
-Services increased and departure times improved
-Direct service Brussels-Ashford
-Excellent punctuality record will improve further
Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train service that links Belgium and France to the UK, announced today (19 January) that it will be operating services on its normal timetable from Monday 23 February 2009, with the fastest journey time of 1h51 to London, and up to 10 trains a day.
The return to a full Eurostar service follows the announcement by Eurotunnel, the owner and operator of the Channel Tunnel, that repairs to the tunnel section known as “Interval-6” will be completed by 10 February. This allows Eurostar to plan and implement the switchover from its current reduced timetable.
Between 10 and 22 February, Eurostar will continue to operate its existing departure times, with some trains likely to arrive earlier than currently timetabled.
From 23 February Eurostar will return to a normal timetable with all services operating at full speed, and fastest non-stop journey times of Brussels – London 1h51, Paris – London 2h15, and Lille – London 1h20.
There will be more trains per day, with up to 10 on the Brussels - London route and up to 19 on the route Paris - London. With the return to full tunnel capacity, the optimum pattern of departure times will be restored, removing gaps in the current timetable which have been caused by the reduced tunnel capacity. This means most trains from Brussels depart earlier, giving business travellers extra time to do business or to enjoy the city. The exact timings of the trains can be found on eurostar.com.
In addition, a new direct Brussels – Ashford service will begin on 23 February, having been delayed since last December by the tunnel incident. Furthermore, there will also be a direct Brussels – Calais service on Saturdays and a Calais – Brussels service on Sundays.
Richard Brown, Chief Executive, Eurostar said, “We’re delighted that Eurostar is returning to its normal high-speed journey times, with the centre of Brussels, Paris and Lille and London respectively only 1h51, 2h15 and 1h20 apart. This is great news for our travellers, speeding up business trips and making leisure breaks to the Continent even more attractive.
“Eurotunnel has done an impressive job to complete the repairs in such a short time, given the scale of the endeavour and the logistics of working within the tunnel space”.
- ends –
Notes to Editors:
1. Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.
2. Under its Tread Lightly environmental plan, Eurostar has set a target of reducing its CO2 emissions by 25% per traveller journey by 2012. Because emissions cannot yet be eliminated, Eurostar is also the world’s first train operator to make all journeys carbon neutral, at no extra cost to travellers. Research commissioned by Eurostar has shown that a Eurostar journey between London and Paris/Brussels generates one-tenth of the carbon dioxide of an equivalent flight.
3. Eurostar arrives in St Pancras International, the new terminal in the heart of London. The Victorian station St Pancras International, which is connected by six Underground lines, has been entirely renovated and is now a new London hub in itself, complete with a shopping arcade and many restaurants and bars. The fastest journey time between Brussels and London is now 1h51*, between Lille and London 1h20* and between Paris and London 1h51*.
4. Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.
5. Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies. Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates a vehicle shuttle service and the Channel tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.
6. For more information and bookings: go to eurostar.com, or call 02 528 28 28, in the SNCB stations with international ticket sales desks or in the travel agencies.
* fastest journey time
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