When it comes to planes v trains, the Eurostar wins the gold medal
By Flip Byrnes
Do not underestimate the Eurostar travelling from Paris to London. Standing at the platform in Gare du Nord, the 18 carriage train curls ahead out of sight like an endless silver snake striking for Britain. “Ze advice?” suggests the French steward checking his watch. “Run.”
Channelling the Chariots of Fire soundtrack and the Olympic spirit engulfing the city I explode into the 400-Metres-With-Wheelie-Bag-And-Coffee-Cup Sprint (sole competitor, test event) when suddenly a whistle blasts. Nowhere near the finish line which happens to be Carriage 1, this probably isn’t a race gun but a sign the train is about to leave.
The question isn’t why would you take the Eurostar, but why wouldn’t you?Credit: Getty Images
It’s four minutes before departure (an eternity in normal cross-Europe train language) but mid-stride I’m waved into the closest door frantically. Inside the final carriages, the sprint slows to hurdles, jumping suitcases being stowed (“Oops, excusez-moi, pardon!”), arriving at the pearly gates (glass doors) of Business Premier sweat-soaked like a double-dipped crumpled croissant. Just as I slide into single window seat 51 the train rumbles into life.
Even without Flo Jo-like speed I could’ve completed the platform sprint plus a pause to nonchalantly puff on an imaginary Gauloises. But the staff are less laissez-faire because, thanks to Brexit, this train has special status including border controls (both French exit and UK entry. Arriving there’s no paperwork, you simply skip off in central London) and luggage checks pre-departure. Eurostar suggests arriving 90 minutes early for London bound trains, halved to 45 minutes if in their first-class equivalent Business Premier class (compared to 20 minutes for Paris-to-Amsterdam trains).
The Eurostar also garners extra reverence as it travels through the Channel Tunnel, aka the Chunnel.
The Chunnel is an engineering marvel. The idea of a subterranean link was proposed to Napoleon III, abandoned and then finally became a reality in 1994. In a figure we can all digest, it’s 107 vertical baguettes deep (75 metres). Originally a three-hour, 40-minute journey, it’s now two hours and 16 minutes between dynamic city centres (arriving in St Pancras), hitting a top speed of 300km/h.
I wonder who’s paying the €375 ($625) for Business Premier and the answer is, everyone. The cabin is almost full on this mid-week 8.42am train, with business commuters toting only laptops.
Business Premier passengers get the same seats as Standard Premier class but with added perks.
Carriage 1 occupants (there can be up to six Business Premier carriages depending on demand) have also caught Olympic fever and are typing for gold. Such athletic endurance makes the offered double meal understandable. As the multilingual server presents pastries, fruit and juices she warns, “there is still a three-course main meal to come.” What she doesn’t add is, “in only 20 minutes”.
Not one to hold back and having skipped the €25 hotel breakfast for the reputed Eurostar fare I devour the ‘pre breakfast’ but it’s simply too early to face the multi-course cooked sausages and vegetables. However, bonjour vegetarian meal. The bubbling hot cheese flan designed by Michelin-star chef Raymond Blanc is a taste explosion. Is that a hint of white wine? Whatever it is I’m here for it. There are also courgette slices, snap peas and roasted tomato so juicy it produces an impressive cross-aisle squirt.
Business Premier has the same roomy seats as Standard Premier (there’s also seat-only Premier for as little as €57). But this class includes business lounges (in Paris it’s a stylish salon with plush rugs and fireplace), fast-track ticket gates (but not security, creating the time crunch. Why Eurostar, why?), the Michelin-chef-designed hot meals, Piper-Heidsieck champagne and fully flexible tickets, refundable even after departure.
Apart from luxury and flexibility, sustainability is the standout factor. The amount of CO₂ emitted per Eurostar passenger is 2.4 kilograms compared to 66 kilograms if flying (an astounding 96 per cent saving). Food waste is converted to compost, there’s no plastic onboard and the honey is from busy Eurostar bees in Kent. Going green doesn’t have to cost the Earth either (extra routes following a merger with Thalys trains last year now include Disneyland, the French Alps, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany). Check the app for special deals, travel Tuesdays and Wednesdays and use the Lowest Fare Finder online.
The question isn’t why take the Eurostar between Paris and London, but why wouldn’t you? With up to 20 departures daily there are no baggage carousels, airport trek, liquid restrictions or extra immigration, plus a generous luggage allowance of three pieces in Business Premium – you can even ship a javelin or canoe with their First Luggage partner. I happily have neither but discover that the train from Frankfurt (with connecting ICE and Eurostar trains) is faster and far more convenient than flying. It’s Europe’s transport winner by a (two country) mile.
The writer travelled as a guest of Eurostar.
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