Why do Eurostar services finish so early in the evening?

[Greenback]

I don't think that there is a lot of room for fares to fall as a result of competiion on this route. Even if it did happen, then my suspicions are that the competition would merely lead to companies finding it unsustainable to runs ervices, so that we'll be left with a similar situation with just one operator after a period of time.

 

[duesselmartin]

I don't think that there is a lot of room for fares to fall as a result of competiion on this route. Even if it did happen, then my suspicions are that the competition would merely lead to companies finding it unsustainable to runs ervices, so that we'll be left with a similar situation with just one operator after a period of time.

Open access passenger services don't really seem to be that successfull in Europe.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Oh yes it was (cue Panto...)

The Brighton - Dieppe service was dubbed Seajet, and the craft was the Normandy Princess, a Boeing 929 Jetfoil, build number 12, built by Boeing in Renton, Washington, USA.

That must have been a separate service then, at a different time.

This is the thing I went on: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=a...393TAhUqDcAKHZVNB5oQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=662

( Link goes to Google Images search results for the Agnes 200 )

 

[Greenback]

Open access passenger services don't really seem to be that successfull in Europe.

That is my impression also.

 

[30907]

Open access passenger services don't really seem to be that successfull in Europe.

With the exception of Italy, where Italy are trying hard.

Another is CZ where Regiojet seem to be doing OK (no doubt helped by it being asubsidiary of a major coach operator) - not sure about Leo, but Arriva are expanding. Whereas in SK Regiojet are, or claim to be, being undermined by ZSSK with government support.

 

[Robertj21a]

I am just wondering why do all Eurostar services finish so early in the evening? Is there a particular reason for this?

At the moment the last trains are as follows:

19:52 Brussels - London 21:03
20:03 London - Brussels 23:05
20:31 London - Paris 23:41
21:13 Paris - London 22:39

For a major international service linking large major capital cities it seems like an appalling service to finish at this time. Surely there should be at the very least a 23:00 departure from Brussels to London and a 23:00 departure from Paris to London. Both services would arrive in London just after approximately 00:00 (UK time). Similar timed departures in the other direction would be good as well. I imagine this would attract a lot more customers to use the service. And it would make day trips much easier as well.

Most of those times seem rather sensible to me. Not sure what the fuss is over.

 

[duesselmartin]

London and Paris must be one of the best two linked capitals in Europe. Only Brussels-Paris seem to fair better.
Compare Berlin - Warsaw for example. Horrendous!

 

[MarcVD]

Brussels Amsterdam is not bad either. An inexpensive IC service plus à more costly high speed service for those who need/can afford it. I wish Brussels Paris would have remained like that too.

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[33Hz]

Most of those times seem rather sensible to me. Not sure what the fuss is over.

That the last train from Brussels goes at 19:52, which of course is really 19:22 with check time, for one. I'd happily go an hour later at times to get better after work connections with some parts of Belgium, yet alone Netherlands and Germany.

 

[Greenback]

Brussels Amsterdam is not bad either. An inexpensive IC service plus à more costly high speed service for those who need/can afford it. I wish Brussels Paris would have remained like that too.

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It's nice to have a choice between demand based pricing on high speed trains and fixed pricing on slower services. It wouldn't work with the Channel Tunnel, though.

 

[radamfi]

In real terms, getting to Europe from Britain by all forms of transport is much cheaper than it was in the 'old days', a fact that often seems to get overlooked.

Yes, as long as you don't want to go at short notice. Before the Channel Tunnel, rail-sea-rail fares were always available at any time at the same price and you could go via Calais or Oostende. Now trips into Belgium are tricky if Eurostar is expensive as there is no Oostende ferry any more. You have to go through Lille or get the train/bus to Dunkerque then change on to the bus to De Panne.

 

[TheSeeker]

That the last train from Brussels goes at 19:52, which of course is really 19:22 with check time, for one. I'd happily go an hour later at times to get better after work connections with some parts of Belgium, yet alone Netherlands and Germany.

Conversely my last train home from Brussels Midi to Braine l'Alleud is 23:25 so arriving any later from London wouldn't help. I would guess most last trains to other parts of Belgium are more or less the same time.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes, as long as you don't want to go at short notice. Before the Channel Tunnel, rail-sea-rail fares were always available at any time at the same price and you could go via Calais or Oostende. Now trips into Belgium are tricky if Eurostar is expensive as there is no Oostende ferry any more. You have to go through Lille or get the train/bus to Dunkerque then change on to the bus to De Panne.

If you want to go to Brussels at short notice, and think the train is too expensive, you can always get the coach. Yes it takes 8hrs, but then the train boat train option wasn't much quicker.

 

[paddington]

The latest flights also run at comparable times especially if you want to include time to city centre (but I suspect few flyers will be heading to a hotel there, most probably are going home to the suburbs, in transit, or at an airport hotel)

 

[175mph]

Yes, as long as you don't want to go at short notice. Before the Channel Tunnel, rail-sea-rail fares were always available at any time at the same price and you could go via Calais or Oostende. Now trips into Belgium are tricky if Eurostar is expensive as there is no Oostende ferry any more. You have to go through Lille or get the train/bus to Dunkerque then change on to the bus to De Panne.

What year was the Oostende ferry withdrawn?

 

[Bletchleyite]

What year was the Oostende ferry withdrawn?

Some time after 1999, as I used it then.