Eurostar

Journey Through Eurostar : A Deep Dive into Travel Excellence

                        Eurostar is a wonderful second high-speed train in rail service. This train travels between London to Paris, London to Brussels, London to Amsterdam and London to Rotterdam. While traveling by this train, we get a chance to see many historically attractive places on the way. Eurostar aims to become a carbon-neutral rail operator by 2040. In Eurostar, they have taken the step of using less plastic which is very beneficial for the environment and now passengers have also been included in this campaign by encouraging them to recycle plastic. Another important thing about Eurostar is that if there is any new update about it, it is spread through internet or television news.

1- The past of Eurostar

Eurostar is the name of a high-speed train, which connects many big cities of Europe. This train also usually runs from London to Paris, London to Brussels, London to Amsterdam and London to Rotterdam. Eurostar was established in 1994. Since then, many changes have taken place which have taken it towards progress. Let us discuss some of its important points:-

• Establishment :- The idea of ​​a high-speed train like Eurostar, which would connect London to many European cities, came in the 1980s and work on it started in 1994 because Europe wanted to make its travels easy and successful.
• Installation :- It was officially inaugurated on 14 November 1994. During the journey the train was carried by the Channel Line, linking London Waterloo station with Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi/Zuid. The tunnel, also known as "The Channel", played a major role in the construction of the Eurostar. The tunnel work started in 1988 and ended in 1994.
• Early Activities :- In the early days of Eurostar, it operated from London Waterloo, but after 2007, this high speed train was declared an international travel rail service from London. Eurostar aims to become a carbon-neutral rail operator by 2040. There will be efforts to reduce carbon emissions in its operations.
• Development and Alternative Routes :- Eurostar also offers a number of other train services, allowing passengers to continue their journey beyond Eurostar's scheduled route. Eurostar also expanded its network with the introduction of new routes, including services to Disneyland Paris and seasonal services to the French Alps.
• Reorganization and Ownership :- Eurostar also has ISO 14001 certification for its environmental stewardship. Eurostar underwent a major restructuring in 2010, in which the UK government sold its stake in the company and the French and Belgian railway companies (SNCF and SNCB) became majority shareholders.

2- Eurostar Categories and Features

Eurostar is a high-speed train that connects Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, so now we will talk about its categories and features. Eurostar has three types of ticket divisions, the first is Standard, the second is Standard Premier and the third is Business Premier. Eurostar has two types of trains: Red and Blue. In its standard Premier you get Two pieces of luggage and one hand luggage, Free magazines, A light meal, Extra spacious seats and UK and EU plug sockets and drinks. Eurostar has been operating since 1994 and is owned 55% by SNCF French Railways, 5% by SNCB Belgian Railways and 40% by Overseas investors.

3- The Routes and Stations of Eurostar 

Eurostar network across UK, France, Belgium, Germany and Netherland. Eurostar is a high-speed train that connects London with several European cities. If we talk about all its routes, they include Paris to Brussels, Paris to Liège, Paris to Dortmund, Paris to Cologne, London to Amsterdam, London to Paris, London to Rotterdam, London to Brussels, London to Lille and London to Bruges. In addition to its regular routes, Eurostar also travels to Paris Gare du Nord, Disneyland Paris, Lille Europe in France, The French Alps, The South of France and Brussels-Midi/Zuid, Antwerp, Liège in Belgium and Amsterdam Centraal, Rotterdam Centraal in the Netherlands. Now we will know in detail about the major routes of Eurostar:-

• London to Paris :- The distance between London and Paris is 286 miles which Eurostar covers in 2 hours 6 minutes. Eurostar fares from London to Paris start from £39 for Standard, £70 for Standard Premier and £275 for Business Premier. Eurostar connects London St Pancras International with Paris Gare du Nord.
• London to Brussels :- The distance between London and Brussels is 286 miles which Eurostar covers in 2 hours. Eurostar fares from London to Brussels start from £39 for Standard, £70 for Standard Premier and £275 for Business Premier. Eurostar connects London St Pancras International to Brussels Midi/Zuid. This route is mostly used for travel and business.
• London to Amsterdam :- The distance between London and Amsterdam is 331 miles which Eurostar covers in just 4 hours 9 minutes. Eurostar fares from London to Amsterdam start from £39 for Standard, £70 for Standard Premier and £290 for Business Premier. Eurostar connects London St Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal. 
• London to Rotterdam :- The distance between London and Rotterdam is 294 miles which Eurostar covers in just 3 hours 13 minutes. Eurostar fares from London to Rotterdam start from £39 for Standard, £70 for Standard Premier and £290 for Business Premier. Eurostar connects London St Pancras International to Rotterdam Centraal. 

4- Booking Tips and Tricks

Before going to any place, we have to keep many things in mind like in which season we should go, when is the season, when we should not go, we should plan our tour keeping all these things in mind. If you book Eurostar tickets in advance, you get cheaper tickets and you can book tickets up to 120 days in advance. You should use Eurostar's app so that you can get alerts about better deals and offers and you can also avail the ticket booking facility from it. Tuesday and Wednesday tickets are cheaper than Weekends and other Holidays and if you want to make any changes to your ticket, this facility is free up to 7 days before departure.

5- Traveling Experience 

I would like to share with you my experience of traveling with Eurostar, its ever-changing technological innovations, expansion plans and collaborations. Personal experiences and passenger reviews highlight the exotic charm of Eurostar travel, making the travel experience a rare attraction. From the moment the train departs from your current station to your destination, the wonders begin and you can enjoy the breathtaking views outside from your window seat. Eurostar is known for its high-speed travel, which saves your travel time between major cities.

• Entrance and Security check :- To reach the station, you are told during advance booking that you have to reach 30-45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Even if you are traveling for the first time, keep in mind that you have to reach 30-45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Because your checking also happens and that takes time. Eurostar takes great care of the security here, just like it is checked during air travel, your luggage and your documents such as your Passport or any National ID card are also checked. 
• Starting and Finishing points :- Eurostar originates from London itself as we have talked about above. London to Paris, London to Brussels, London to Rotterdam and London to Amsterdam are the major stations of Eurostar. Apart from this, it also goes to other European places like the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.
• Travel comfort :- If there is something that makes Eurostar different from other trains, it is its comfort and modern facilities. It has a wide seating area and there is a power supply in the seats to charge your electronic devices.
• Food services :- Catering services are also available to you during the journey. You can order the food you want while keeping your health in mind. Standard Premier passengers get less options in food and drinks, whereas Business Premier passengers get more options in food and drinks.
• Entertainment and Wi-Fi :- Eurostar also has Wi-Fi access so you can do your office work or make video calls to your friends over the internet to show off the beautiful views. Movies, TV shows and music are also available for Kids, Newly married couples and Elders.

Conclusion

Throughout this article we have learned about the European rail wonder Eurostar, its features, its routes, its booking system and much more. It is said that Eurostar is so expensive because the reason behind it is advanced booking. Those who book earlier would get the tickets at a cheaper price and those who book on special occasions would find the tickets expensive due to high demand. This train takes you from Marne-la-Vallee-Chessy station, opposite to the famous place which we know as Disneyland. There is another train in its competition named Deutsche Bahn (DB) which runs between London to Frankfurt and Amsterdam, we will talk about it some other time. This was my experience of traveling with Eurostar which I shared with all of you. Do tell in the comments when are you planning this golden tour with Eurostar. Till then goodbye and thank you.