Advice on current conditions on Eurostar

[Gerald Fiennes]

I'm thinking of getting back on Eurostar and visiting the UK again (after a long time...). Has anyone used ES since the C-19 restrictions eased? Is the Brussels route still emptier than the Paris route? And when's the quietest time to travel given that there is not much business travel: before 1000? After 1700? Any recent experience, are the services jam packed?

 

[30907]

I'm thinking of getting back on Eurostar and visiting the UK again (after a long time...). Has anyone used ES since the C-19 restrictions eased? Is the Brussels route still emptier than the Paris route? And when's the quietest time to travel given that there is not much business travel: before 1000? After 1700? Any recent experience, are the services jam packed?

Sorry can't help, but given the minimal number of services operating, I am not sure you have much choice
The booking site should give you some indication of what the loadings are likely to be.

 

[StephenHunter]

Also, you don't need a PCR test or to quarantine if you're spending less than 48 hours in Belgium, just to complete the Passenger Locator Form. That's been confirmed by the Belgian Embassy on Facebook.

 

[biko]

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to use Eurostar this year as there is still is a quarantine requirement when entering the Netherlands from the UK. As there are so few trains running and still many travel restrictions, I expect it to be quiet. However, Thalys was pretty fully booked last week when I used it, even first class. So I think it might become busier during the coming weeks (although not between Brussels and Amsterdam because of the mentioned quarantine requirement).

 

[duesselmartin]

Avoiding Eurostar for exactly the mentioned reasons. As rules tend to change rather fast I will not but up with the stress of transiting multiple countries.
So reluctantly I will fly.

 

[Ianno87]

Avoiding Eurostar for exactly the mentioned reasons. As rules tend to change rather fast I will not but up with the stress of transiting multiple countries.
So reluctantly I will fly.

I can see my next Eurostar trip (probably next year) if it happens being a case of "keep it simple" to France only.

 

[D6130]

All being well, my wife and I will be travelling on Eurostar to Paris a week next Wednesday (15th September), en route to Italy - then returning on 12th November. I'll let you all know how it goes.

 

[Horizon22]

I've recently used the Eurostar (20th Aug) to Paris as has my partner (16th Aug) at differing times & days outbound, same one return (23rd). She travelled on the mega early (0637?) which she said was really quite empty (had two tables to herself). On my train (Friday 1236) I had a double to myself, but there weren't loads of spare seats. On our return Monday afternoon it was again well loaded from Gare Du Nord, but we were able to move seats within our carriage to face forward and when I went to the cafe which was a few coaches down there were a few more doubles.

As for customs / Covid passports / Brexit it was all very smooth at Gare Du Nord. It's a bit cramped at the St Pancras end. We were doubled vaxxed which helped no doubt and everything was on my phone so wasn't carrying any paper (except for the weird French equivalent of a PLF).

Of course they are increasing the number of services from Monday.

 

[Panda]

I am travelling on the 08:01 service on Saturday from London to Paris. The website now says to arrive 2 hours before departure, but that would mean some really awkward train changes (the difference is leaving home at 03:45 vs 05:10!) - the earliest I can make it to St Pancras is for 06:30 - all my memories of St Pancras is always sitting waiting in the departure area forever to board the train. I have everything else in order (double-vaxxed with proof in both UK and French apps, return tests booked and so on). I don't feel that arriving 90 minutes before is cutting it too fine, unless I am missing something?

 

[I13]

I travelled London/Paris and return over the past two weeks, reasonably busy both ways - I *think* strangers could be booked next to each other but I had a spare seat next to me both ways.

I am travelling on the 08:01 service on Saturday from London to Paris. The website now says to arrive 2 hours before departure, but that would mean some really awkward train changes (the difference is leaving home at 03:45 vs 05:10!) - the earliest I can make it to St Pancras is for 06:30 - all my memories of St Pancras is always sitting waiting in the departure area forever to board the train. I have everything else in order (double-vaxxed with proof in both UK and French apps, return tests booked and so on). I don't feel that arriving 90 minutes before is cutting it too fine, unless I am missing something?

I was through the controls at St Pancras in 5 minutes max, I felt like a bit of a fool for having arrived so early like the ticket said! 90 minutes should be more than fine.

As for customs / Covid passports / Brexit it was all very smooth at Gare Du Nord. It's a bit cramped at the St Pancras end. We were doubled vaxxed which helped no doubt and everything was on my phone so wasn't carrying any paper (except for the weird French equivalent of a PLF).

Interesting, the queues through the UK controls were so long at Gare du Nord that our departure was delayed by half an hour! Might have just been a particularly busy day and/or the UK Border Control short staffed.

 

[Horizon22]

I am travelling on the 08:01 service on Saturday from London to Paris. The website now says to arrive 2 hours before departure, but that would mean some really awkward train changes (the difference is leaving home at 03:45 vs 05:10!) - the earliest I can make it to St Pancras is for 06:30 - all my memories of St Pancras is always sitting waiting in the departure area forever to board the train. I have everything else in order (double-vaxxed with proof in both UK and French apps, return tests booked and so on). I don't feel that arriving 90 minutes before is cutting it too fine, unless I am missing something?

2 hours is a bit extreme. 60-90 minutes is almost certainly fine.

 

[Richard Scott]

Travelled back from Brussels last Monday on 18.26 service, quite busy.

 

[Jim the Jim]

London-Amsterdam two weeks ago: moderately busy, quite a few empty seats but no guarantee at all of getting a pair to yourself. It was the only train of the day so no chance of comparing different times, not sure if that's changed yet.

Staff at St Pancras were making sure you had the paperwork but didn't seem too bothered about checking the details. Guard on the train was actively enforcing masks, which is more than I've seen on National Rail services.

I got to the station 90 minutes before departure, but didn't get the impression people arriving later missed out (except on a seat in the departure lounge). I guess the thing to avoid is overlapping with people queuing for the next service, who will start to arrive about two hours before it leaves.

 

[Richard Scott]

Staff at St Pancras were making sure you had the paperwork but didn't seem too bothered about checking the details. Guard on the train was actively enforcing masks, which is more than I've see on National Rail services.

No paperwork check at St. Pancras when I went and UK border control in Belgium only interested in passport.
There wasn't an active enforcement of masks although many announcements, not surprising on National Rail (if in England) as mask not required.

 

[AY1975]

2 hours is a bit extreme. 60-90 minutes is almost certainly fine.

The Eurostar website advises you to check in 120 minutes (i.e. 2 hours) before departure if travelling Standard or Standard Premier, at least at Paris Nord and Brussels Midi.

For St Pancras, it says 90-120 minutes Mon-Thur and 120 minutes Fri-Sun.

I presume that you still just walk straight off the Eurostar platforms on arrival at Paris Nord and Brussels Midi? I seem to recall that before Brexit there was some suggestion (although this may only have been speculation) that French and Belgian border officials would be unwilling to operate in a third country (which the UK now is) and that they would therefore have to set up passport controls for disembarking passengers at Paris Nord (which AFAIK have never operated there at any time since Eurostar started running in 1994) and reintroduce them at Brussels Midi (where I think they did operate in the first few years of Eurostar in the 1990s, and I think the passport checking booths for disembarking passengers are still in situ).

Obviously if they did have to reintroduce passport controls on arrival at Brussels Midi, that would mean no more 20-minute connections with ICEs! Having to do passport checks on arrival at Paris Nord would also have meant having to reconfigure the Eurostar terminal there (and having to allow much longer for onward connections in Paris).

 

[Horizon22]

The Eurostar website advises you to check in 120 minutes (i.e. 2 hours) before departure if travelling Standard or Standard Premier, at least at Paris Nord and Brussels Midi.

For St Pancras, it says 90-120 minutes Mon-Thur and 120 minutes Fri-Sun.

I presume that you still just walk straight off the Eurostar platforms on arrival at Paris Nord and Brussels Midi? I seem to recall that before Brexit there was some suggestion (although this may only have been speculation) that French and Belgian border officials would be unwilling to operate in a third country (which the UK now is) and that they would therefore have to set up passport controls for disembarking passengers at Paris Nord (which AFAIK have never operated there at any time since Eurostar started running in 1994) and reintroduce them at Brussels Midi (where I think they did operate in the first few years of Eurostar in the 1990s, and I think the passport checking booths for disembarking passengers are still in situ).

Obviously if they did have to reintroduce passport controls on arrival at Brussels Midi, that would mean no more 20-minute connections with ICEs! Having to do passport checks on arrival at Paris Nord would also have meant having to reconfigure the Eurostar terminal there (and having to allow much longer for onward connections in Paris).

I'm aware that's what they advise, but in reality it's not that bad. I think it's just an (understandable) abundance of caution from Eurostar so people don't end up complaining. Yes you do just walk straight off on arrival - well in France you did anyway.

 

[Aictos]

Also, you don't need a PCR test or to quarantine if you're spending less than 48 hours in Belgium, just to complete the Passenger Locator Form. That's been confirmed by the Belgian Embassy on Facebook.

However don't you still need to do a PCR test before returning to the UK?

 

[Aictos]

Also, you don't need a PCR test or to quarantine if you're spending less than 48 hours in Belgium, just to complete the Passenger Locator Form. That's been confirmed by the Belgian Embassy on Facebook.

Actually according to the UK Govt, that isn't the case and I quote using official guidelines here:

Entering Belgium from the UK​

The UK is currently classified as red zone (high risk) on the Belgian government’s travel colour code system. If you do not hold a Belgian, EU Digital COVID Certificate or a NHS COVID Pass with a QR code (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only), you are considered to be unvaccinated by the Belgian government and should follow entry requirements for unvaccinated travellers.

Travellers who are fully vaccinated with a Belgian, EU Vaccination Certificate or an NHS COVID Pass (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only)​

You must:

• complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF), unless you fall under a very limited list of exemptions listed on the Belgian government website (under the Transport and International section)
• take a test on day 1 or 2 after arrival and quarantine until you receive a negative result. You must take a further test on day 7. If any of the test results are positive, you must self-isolate.

Further details are listed on the Belgian government’s website.

Travellers who are not fully vaccinated, or vaccinated with a vaccine or certificate not recognised by Belgium​

If you fall under this category you will only be able to travel to Belgium for a very limited set of reasons, set out on the Belgian government’s website (under the Transport and International section).

You must:

• carry documentation that proves your essential reason for travel. You may need an Essential Travel Certificate. Applications need to be submitted to the Embassy of Belgium in the UK at least five days before your departure
• complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF), unless you fall under an exemption listed on the Belgian government website (under the Transport and International section)
• non-residents must provide evidence of a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours before arrival
• quarantine for 10 days on arrival and take a PCR test on day 1 and day 7. If the day 7 result is negative, you may end quarantine early.

 

[Richard Scott]

I'm aware that's what they advise, but in reality it's not that bad. I think it's just an (understandable) abundance of caution from Eurostar so people don't end up complaining. Yes you do just walk straight off on arrival - well in France you did anyway.

I arrived around 100 minutes before departure and, in hindsight, I certainly could have arrived later than that. Not sure I'd push my luck beyond 60 minutes but looked like some people did.

 

[Horizon22]

I arrived around 100 minutes before departure and, in hindsight, I certainly could have arrived later than that. Not sure I'd push my luck beyond 60 minutes but looked like some people did.

I got there 80 minutes before and I ended up in a queue as did people behind me anyway so didn't matter that much.

 

[big_rig]

Likewise I arrived about 90 minutes before and think an hour would’ve been perfectly fine. This may change though when more services run - it was only the one train people would’ve been realistically queuing up for when I went, whereas in normal times you’d have people for a couple of other services in the line as well (though from memory they were pretty good before at having systems to get people for the first departing train through the queue more quickly).

 

[StephenHunter]

There are customs spot checks at Midi and Gare du Nord when exiting those platforms. Also Covid doc checks at the moment, I believe.

 

[dutchflyer]

AFAIK going TO the UK for us, Europeans (sorry to ´exclude´ the Brits for being that now, or should I mention ´continentals´) seems to be much harder as the other way.
I fairly often see the 1/day EU* passing Rotterdam-as it often coincides with my trips, and as for the sitting pax I noted: only 1 car would have been enough for all, so every now and then they might have to sit besides a stranger. But the train has 12 or 14 cars. But thats the other outer end of course. In the past EU* did have the habit of placing pax as much as they could a bit together and leaving other cars completely empty

 

[DanielB]

The Amsterdam Eurostar will always be more empty in one half of the train. Also now the passport checks taken place at the Dutch stations, still only half the platform is sealed off and the other half of the train available for passengers to Brussels. There that part of the train is security swept and used for passengers boarding at Brussels.

Besides that: in the travel advice issued by the Dutch government the UK is "code orange" and seen as high risk area. Meaning a negative test result and quarantine is mandatory. That likely severely limits the number of passengers onboard Eurostar

 

[StephenHunter]

Actually according to the UK Govt, that isn't the case and I quote using official guidelines here:

Entering Belgium from the UK​

The UK is currently classified as red zone (high risk) on the Belgian government’s travel colour code system. If you do not hold a Belgian, EU Digital COVID Certificate or a NHS COVID Pass with a QR code (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only), you are considered to be unvaccinated by the Belgian government and should follow entry requirements for unvaccinated travellers.

Travellers who are fully vaccinated with a Belgian, EU Vaccination Certificate or an NHS COVID Pass (England, Wales and Northern Ireland only)​

You must:

• complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF), unless you fall under a very limited list of exemptions listed on the Belgian government website (under the Transport and International section)
• take a test on day 1 or 2 after arrival and quarantine until you receive a negative result. You must take a further test on day 7. If any of the test results are positive, you must self-isolate.

Further details are listed on the Belgian government’s website.

Travellers who are not fully vaccinated, or vaccinated with a vaccine or certificate not recognised by Belgium​

If you fall under this category you will only be able to travel to Belgium for a very limited set of reasons, set out on the Belgian government’s website (under the Transport and International section).

You must:

• carry documentation that proves your essential reason for travel. You may need an Essential Travel Certificate. Applications need to be submitted to the Embassy of Belgium in the UK at least five days before your departure
• complete a Passenger Locator Form (PLF), unless you fall under an exemption listed on the Belgian government website (under the Transport and International section)
• non-residents must provide evidence of a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours before arrival
• quarantine for 10 days on arrival and take a PCR test on day 1 and day 7. If the day 7 result is negative, you may end quarantine early.

I'll take the Belgian Embassy here; some travellers in European Rail Gen have gone through with no problem.

 

[Aictos]

I'll take the Belgian Embassy here; some travellers in European Rail Gen have gone through with no problem.

That's all fine going to Belgium but you do have to take note of UK Govt guidelines when returning.

 

[Watershed]

However don't you still need to do a PCR test before returning to the UK?

Not before returning.

If returning to the UK from a green or (if vaccinated) an amber country, you need to present a negative lateral flow test (PCR is also acceptable but is more expensive) before travelling. And you need to have booked a day 2 PCR test.

So the PCR test is only after you are back here and as it's a day 2 test you obviously can't use this test for multiple 'inspections'. Whereas, for a short trip, you can use the same lateral flow test both for your outward journey (if necessary) as well as your return journey.

 

[newmilton]

Of course, it may all change again at short notice before I need to travel, but I was wondering about how the COVID requirements work on the Amsterdam service, as you go through French passport control at Saint Pancras, then pass through France and Belgium before reaching the Netherlands? Whose rules do you comply with ... or are they reasonably harmonised at least in terms of paperwork?

 

[TFN]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if you could help me. I'm doing a same-day trip to Lille on Eurostar, taking the first train to Lille and the last train back to London next week.

I'm fully vaccinated in England and have the passes required. What do France need me to show at St Pancras?

Secondly, I need a test before I come back to London but obviously can't get a PCR done in Lille as the results won't be given to me on time. Can I get a test done the day before my trip and does it have to be a PCR?

Thank you for your help in advance.

 

[Watershed]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if you could help me. I'm doing a same-day trip to Lille on Eurostar, taking the first train to Lille and the last train back to London next week.

I'm fully vaccinated in England and have the passes required. What do France need me to show at St Pancras?

Secondly, I need a test before I come back to London but obviously can't get a PCR done in Lille as the results won't be given to me on time. Can I get a test done the day before my trip and does it have to be a PCR?

Thank you for your help in advance.

As per the FCO advice:

Travellers who are fully vaccinated do not need an essential reason to travel to France and do not need to self-isolate on arrival. From 18 July, fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to present evidence of a negative test result before travel. Fully vaccinated travellers will need to present the following documents:

• a completed ‘sworn statement’ (déclaration sur l’honneur) form self-certifying they are not suffering from symptoms associated with coronavirus and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight. This can be found on the French government’s website
• proof of vaccination status

So you only need a test for your return journey to the UK. Either lateral flow or PCR will do, and it can be taken at any point in the 3 days preceding your date of arrival. So if you like, you can take your test before you even set off for St Pancras.

Unfortunately you will also need to book a day 2 PCR test, which is likely to cost more than the £30-ish that your LFT will set you back.

It's clear how much more onerous the travel requirements are here than abroad!