Eurostar St Pancras - is bedlam normal?

[jon0844]

The thing is that Eurostar themselves are a massive enabler for that, why would they open check-in 2 hours before departure (they do that in Paris)?

If you don't want to deal with queues at GdN, have someone posted at the stairs/lifts on ground level and make non-BP passengers disperse on ground level before the hours mark.

There is a lot more room in Paris, albeit a lot of people never walk down to the end where there's always loads of room!

Admittedly, there are times where there's no real attempt to limit entry at St Pancras - but when there are staff there, they do have separate lanes for each train and can turn people away.

 

[Birkonian]

There is a lot more room in Paris, albeit a lot of people never walk down to the end where there's always loads of room!

Admittedly, there are times where there's no real attempt to limit entry at St Pancras - but when there are staff there, they do have separate lanes for each train and can turn people away.

I turned up early a few years ago when there were headlines about long queues. I was told to come back an hour before departure. I happily retreated to The John Betjeman.

 

[jon0844]

I turned up early a few years ago when there were headlines about long queues. I was told to come back an hour before departure. I happily retreated to The John Betjeman.

Good call! I've also gone to Benugo for a sandwich and beer, as this was by the queue so I could sit and keep an eye on things.

Depending on your luggage, it's just as good to wander over to Coal Drops Yard. You're still only a five minute walk, and bar waiting to cross the road, there's nothing that's going to cause any delay.

 

[ratters]

Used Smartcheck lane this morning, through security and passport control in literally 2 mins, no queue.
I don’t have a BP ticket.

 

[BahrainLad]

Used Smartcheck lane this morning, through security and passport control in literally 2 mins, no queue.
I don’t have a BP ticket.

Shhh.

 

[jayah]

Has it been confirmed that no bookings within 48 hours will be accepted or is it just that airlines etc will need to run the check on existing passengers around 48 hours before? If its the former I would be surprised if that lasts for long. I don't think people going to America, Canada or Australia need to book more than 48 hours before arrival if they have pre authorisation or they don't but it is granted before they depart.

Seems to be some confusion over this.

Ryanair responded to a consultation in 2023 saying exactly that (no bookings) other sources say the OK to travel status check must not be placed by the carrier earlier than 48hrs.

The initial application for the 3yr ETIAS needs to allow 48hrs to clear.

 

[Chester1]

Seems to be some confusion over this.

Ryanair responded to a consultation in 2023 saying exactly that (no bookings) other sources say the OK to travel status check must not be placed by the carrier earlier than 48hrs.

The initial application for the 3yr ETIAS needs to allow 48hrs to clear.

I would be surprised if its different to how things work visiting the US, Canada and Australia i.e. its at your own risk if you book very late and don't have pre authorisation yet. Most applications should take a few minutes to process.

 

[57Tonic]

I came out of the Thames-Link gate line on Friday 14th to see the end of the €* line passing the shops, across the concourses and back down towards the other side, is this normal for 14.00hs

 

[island]

I came out of the Thames-Link gate line on Friday 14th to see the end of the €* line passing the shops, across the concourses and back down towards the other side, is this normal for 14.00hs

It can be when the Police aux Frontières are having a go-slow

 

[Mawkie]

New Civil Engineer has an article that HS1 has awarded a contract to agency Active Thinking to look into the options available for expanding St Pancras International Station to increase capacity.

A three-step approach will assess how to optimise the current station infrastructure, cater for continued growth of international passengers and examine the impact and cost of expansion as part of the study.

The team of design specialists will investigate how modern approaches and technological solutions could be used to increase passenger flows through the station with Active Thinking aiming to will deliver its report by autumn.

 

[Bikeman78]

That's not a new problem though. The Class 374s have been with us for north of 8 years.

Doesn't time fly. My records show that my last ride on a 373 was in 2018. My penultimate ride was in October 2017 and was also my last required pair of power cars. Lucky!

 

[Tester]

Doesn't time fly. My records show that my last ride on a 373 was in 2018. My penultimate ride was in October 2017 and was also my last required pair of power cars. Lucky!

I had one on Monday - short notice change from the booked 374.

Quite nostalgic!

 

[bkhtele]

Shhh.

Used Smartcheck lane this morning, through security and passport control in literally 2 mins, no queue.
I don’t have a BP ticket.

Can you register for this without a BP ticket?

 

[island]

Can you register for this without a BP ticket?

Yes if you have Carte Blanche or Étoile status with Eurostar (and possibly with RailTeam equivalents).

No, if you’re a normal travelling in Standard or SP.

 

[njr001]

Sign up for iproov which is free and jump all the queues worked for me just walk to business premier section straight through in a couple of minutes last Tuesday

 

[BahrainLad]

No, if you’re a normal travelling in Standard or SP.

Wasn’t the case in May.

 

[island]

I wouldn't be able to comment on May or on personal anecdotes, only the Eurostar website and official current policies which are that you need to be in Business Premier or a Carte Blanche or Étoile member to use it.

 

[dontteleport]

The issue with Eurostar is that if it's going to be slightly more expensive than flying most of the time, it needs to totally outclass flying from a convenience perspective. Seamless access just like a domestic service. Now certain political decisions may have hampered that from a border perspective, but really they should never have implemented the airport style security. There's just no reason for it when you consider that you likely just stepped off an EMR or Thameslink with no such checks, and somehow you didn't explode or anything . If passengers want paranoia catering to at the expense of efficiency and privacy, they can fly.

 

[Krokodil]

but really they should never have implemented the airport style security. There's just no reason for it when you consider that you likely just stepped off an EMR or Thameslink with no such checks, and somehow you didn't explode or anything

Out of curiosity, what security checks do shuttle cars/lorries go through?

 

[dontteleport]

Out of curiosity, what security checks do shuttle cars/lorries go through?

Minimal, randomly selected passport screening especially for coaches, randomly selected searches/x-ray. By no means is every vehicle thoroughly searched. So once again, I want that justifying at St Pancreas because I really do feel it's unnecessary and detracts from the benefits of Eurostar.

 

[njr001]

Just to confirm I held a standard premier ticket when I showed the App I was directed to the Business Premier entrance

 

[BahrainLad]

I wouldn't be able to comment on May or on personal anecdotes, only the Eurostar website and official current policies which are that you need to be in Business Premier or a Carte Blanche or Étoile member to use it.

Policies are one thing, real life is another.

 

[Trainbike46]

The issue with Eurostar is that if it's going to be slightly more expensive than flying most of the time, it needs to totally outclass flying from a convenience perspective. Seamless access just like a domestic service. Now certain political decisions may have hampered that from a border perspective, but really they should never have implemented the airport style security. There's just no reason for it when you consider that you likely just stepped off an EMR or Thameslink with no such checks, and somehow you didn't explode or anything . If passengers want paranoia catering to at the expense of efficiency and privacy, they can fly.

While I agree eurostar should be cheaper, run more frequently, and be more convenient, at the end of the day Eurostar doesn't get to decide whether they do a security check - the requirements for that are imposed by the relevant governments, just like the requirements for passport controls.
I'm sure if you gave eurostar the option of not doing security checks, they'd immediately stop doing them, given how much money and staff time they cost

 

[island]

Out of curiosity, what security checks do shuttle cars/lorries go through?

For cars there are full passport controls on all passengers. A few cars are randomly selected for cursory searches or explosive trace detection swabs.

 

[signed]

The issue with Eurostar is that if it's going to be slightly more expensive than flying most of the time

To play the Devil Advocate, one of the main issue with pricing is the lack of capacity on the service so it has to price themselve out of most travellers.

I don't know the feasability (but seeing what the GetLink communication is, there is tunnel capacity available), but if you put a 2tph service to Paris, 1tph to Brussels and 1tp2h to Amsterdam, the prices are likely to go down quite low on Advance-type tickets unless they are to be artificially raised.

 

[BahrainLad]

The issue with Eurostar is that if it's going to be slightly more expensive than flying most of the time, it needs to totally outclass flying from a convenience perspective.

It does. The experience of flying from London to Paris (in particular) is horrendous. At the London end, you have to travel out to Heathrow, Gatwick or Luton - there are no flights from City. At the Paris end CDG is a dump unless you're flying Air France. ORY isn't much better but the only airline on the route is Vueling...no thanks.

I once decided to be clever and fly CDG-LHR-MAD at the end of a business trip and the start of a long weekend away, I figured it would be easier to just connect over Heathrow. I got the RER from Auber out to CDG...delayed, ticket machines broken, filthy train. Got to CDG and a long walk to the bit of T2 BA use. Huge security queues. Huge outbound immigration queues (Emirates and Etihad both had A380s leaving at the same time from the same gates). A bus out to the aircraft. A slot delay. A long taxi out. 30 minutes in the air. Holding over Essex. A wait for a gate at Heathrow and then long queues at transfers. And this was flying Club!

It would've been far easier to Eurostar to London and get the Piccadilly out to Heathrow. I would not under almost any circumstances fly between London and Paris.

 

[Trainbike46]

To play the Devil Advocate, one of the main issue with pricing is the lack of capacity on the service so it has to price themselve out of most travellers.

I don't know the feasability (but seeing what the GetLink communication is, there is tunnel capacity available), but if you put a 2tph service to Paris, 1tph to Brussels and 1tp2h to Amsterdam, the prices are likely to go down quite low on Advance-type tickets unless they are to be artificially raised.

There are 4 passenger train paths per hour per direction (departing from STP at .01, .04, .31, and .34 past the hour, with some hours having a 5th .16 departure slot) so absolutely more than enough capacity for 2 tph to Paris all day, 1 tph to Brussels all day, with half the departures extending to Amsterdam, and 1 tph of trains to potential other destinations (or extra trains to Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam at peak times)

 

[island]

There are 4 passenger train paths per hour per direction (departing from STP at .01, .04, .31, and .34 past the hour, with some hours having a 5th .16 departure slot) so absolutely more than enough capacity for 2 tph to Paris all day, 1 tph to Brussels all day, with half the departures extending to Amsterdam, and 1 tph of trains to potential other destinations (or extra trains to Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam at peak times)

Are there enough paths on LGV Nord, HSL-1 and Zuid etc. though?

 

[Trainbike46]

Are there enough paths on LGV Nord, HSL-1 and Zuid etc. though?

The Netherlands generally uses something called the "basisuurpatroon", which means the entire timetable consist of (almost) identical hourly blocks - so the Eurostar paths do in fact exist in the Netherlands every hour

Not sure about the lines in France and Belgium

 

[DanielB]

The Netherlands generally uses something called the "basisuurpatroon", which means the entire timetable consist of (almost) identical hourly blocks - so the Eurostar paths do in fact exist in the Netherlands every hour

The paths do exist, but another train may already be using them. For example there is a Eurostar from Marne-la-Vallee-Chessy (train 9937) using the path also used by Eurostar from London (series 91xx).