Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
from downtown London to downtown Paris or Brussels (1-2/hour, 2.5 hours) faster and
more easily than flying. The train goes 190 mph both before and after the English Channel
crossing. The actual tunnel crossing is a 20-minute, silent, 100-mile-per-hour nonevent.
Your ears won't even pop.
Get ready for more high-speed connections: Eurostar's monopoly expired at the
beginning of 2010, and Germany's national railroad is negotiating to run bullet trains
between Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and London by 2016.
Eurostar Fares
Unlike most trains in Western Europe, the Eurostar is not covered by rail passes and always
requires a separate, reserved train ticket. Eurostar fares (essentially the same between Lon-
don and Paris or Brussels) vary depending on how far ahead you reserve, whether you can
live with restrictions (refundable vs. non-refundable tickets), and whether you're eligible
for any discounts.
A
one-way, full-fare ticket
runs about $200-240 (“Standard”), $240-310 (“Standard
Premier”), and $390 (“Business”).
Discounts
can lower fares substantially for children
