A frequent traveller has revealed the mistake she often sees people make while using the Eurostar, which can cause long wait times.
Julie Delahaye has travelled on the high-speed train more than 50 times between London and Brussels.
As those familiar with the main London terminus for Eurostar at St Pancras will know all too well, there are limited food and drink options once you’ve passed through border control.
Julie therefore suggests buying drinks and snacks before you pass through border control to avoid the rush at the other end. She also recommends having all of your documents prepared and gadgets out before security for a smooth check-in.
But there is one even more fundamental mistake people make when travelling on the Eurostar, according to the traveller.
She told The Mirror: ‘There’s one error that I consistently see travellers making – and it can actually result in them having to wait longer for their train.
‘While airlines typically require you to arrive two to three hours prior to a flight, the window is much smaller for the Eurostar, and they won’t allow you to join the queue if you arrive too early.
‘When you reach the Eurostar departure queues, staff members usually hold signs displaying train numbers and departure times. If your train isn’t listed, it’s unlikely you’ll be allowed through.
A frequent traveller has revealed the mistake she often sees people make while using the Eurostar, which can cause long wait times
Eurostar advises arriving 75 minutes prior to the departure time in London
‘The hall typically accommodates two to three trains worth of passengers, which can lead to overcrowding during delays.’
This often results in passengers having to stand outside the queues for the Eurostar terminal.
This system isn’t exclusive to London; Brussels also employs a similar method, meaning early arrivals won’t be granted access to the terminal until the check-in window opens for their specific train.
Eurostar advises arriving 75 minutes prior to the departure time in London. In Paris, there’s a broader window of up to 90 minutes, while in Brussels, the recommended arrival time is up to an hour before departure.
In 2024, Eurostar reported carrying 19.5million passengers, a new record and an increase of five per cent from the previous year.
It comes as Eurostar have announced it will purchase up to 50 two-storey trains for use across its entire network, which includes between London St Pancras and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam via the Channel Tunnel.
It has reached a £1.7billion agreement for Alstom to build the trains in factories in France, where the manufacturer has its headquarters.
Eurostar has confirmed an initial order for 30 trains, and has an option for a further 20.
In 2024, Eurostar reported carrying 19.5million passengers, a new record and an increase of five per cent from the previous year
The fully electric fleet will be named Eurostar Celestia, which is derived from the Latin word caelestis, meaning ‘heavenly’.
Compared with the operator’s existing fleet of 17 single-decker Siemens-built e320s, the new trains will have 20 per cent more seats, a lower floor and be 16cm taller.
Double-decker trains do not have twice as many seats as single-deckers because space is needed for interior steps.
Eurostar has also announced plans to add services from St Pancras to both Frankfurt and Geneva in the coming years.
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The Eurostar mistake travellers make that can cause long delays – and how to avoid it
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