Clocks Aboard Eurostar Trains

[Full Standing]

A couple of months ago, I travelled on Eurostar (for the first time). I went from London to Brussels and then back from Brussels to London a few weeks later. Both times, I've been on an e320 (British Rail class 374).

I noted that the passenger information screens on the train did not show the current time. Only some Eurostar ads and the next stations, but not the time. I also didn't find any clocks elsewhere.

Did anyone else notice this? And what could the reasons behind this be? The only explanation that comes to my mind is that Eurostar hides the time deliberately to avoid confusion with the different time zones.

 

[AdamWW]

I noted that the passenger information screens on the train did not show the current time. Only some Eurostar ads and the next stations, but not the time. I also didn't find any clocks elsewhere.

Did anyone else notice this? And what could the reasons behind this be? The only explanation that comes to my mind is that Eurostar hides the time deliberately to avoid confusion with the different time zones.

Do UK trains normally have the time displayed in them? If so I don't think I've paid any attention.

Though I've certainly seen it on buses - particularly when there are two different displays and they're giving different times...

I presume if they did want to show the time on the Eurostar the obvious thing to do would just be to always display both time zones. Changing half way through the tunnel might be a bit confusing.

I think aside from Eurostar the only time I've crossed a time zone by train is in North America and I don't think any of the trains had passenger information displays.

 

[Full Standing]

Do UK trains normally have the time displayed in them? If so I don't think I've paid any attention.

Very good thought, that's why I love this forum! I couldn't tell to be honest. I think that this is a question of perspective: I stumbled across it since I'm used to German trains (grew up there), where displaying the current time is extremely common, and standard on ICE trains.

 

[AdamWW]

Very good thought, that's why I love this forum! I couldn't tell to be honest. I think that this is a question of perspective: I stumbled across it since I'm used to German trains (grew up there), where displaying the current time is extremely common, and standard on ICE trains.

It does surprise me how often it can be quite hard to find anything showing the time at UK railway stations.

I got caught out a few years ago because I assumed my phone had changed time zones when arriving in the UK and it hadn't bothered.

 

[StephenHunter]

It does surprise me how often it can be quite hard to find anything showing the time at UK railway stations.

I got caught out a few years ago because I assumed my phone had changed time zones when arriving in the UK and it hadn't bothered.

I personally change my watch to the arrival time zone as soon as I board Eurostar.

 

[AndrewE]

I think most up-to-date UK train PISs do show the time, maybe intermittently, but it's usually there.
I am surprised that the time isn't a permanent feature of most station departure boards though... I often guess it by looking for the next departure and subtracting a bit!

 

[AdamWW]

I personally change my watch to the arrival time zone as soon as I board Eurostar.

Haven't had one of those for a long time.

 

[StephenHunter]

Haven't had one of those for a long time.

My personal watch for my travels is a CASIO wave ceptor; radio-controlled, nice clear screen and not something that screams "Rich tourist, mug me".

 

[SuspectUsual]

Do UK trains normally have the time displayed in them?

99.9% sure the PIS on the 195s shows the time. Possibly the only useful information they show actually

 

[The exile]

99.9% sure the PIS on the 195s shows the time. Possibly the only useful information they show actually

IETs do as well - and amazingly it’s right! Other than Eurostar the only time I’ve crossed time zones by train it’s been between Romania / Serbia and Hungary, where the stick hasn’t run to any kind of PIS at all. I wonder whether they (as in Eurostar) don’t show the time as the zone change occurs where the system can’t pick up GPS or any other radio time signal.

 

[AdamWW]

I wonder whether they (as in Eurostar) don’t show the time as the zone change occurs where the system can’t pick up GPS or any other radio time signal.

Isn't there mobile phone coverage in the tunnels now?

 

[StephenHunter]

Isn't there mobile phone coverage in the tunnels now?

Yes, 4G I believe.

 

[Full Standing]

Do UK trains normally have the time displayed in them?

I think most up-to-date UK train PISs do show the time, maybe intermittently, but it's usually there.

After thinking a bit, I'm pretty confident that GWR's Class 800 trains display the time intermittently on these green dot matrix screens inside the coaches, so some UK trains do display the current time.

Isn't there mobile phone coverage in the tunnels now?

Yes, 4G I believe.

Interesting! Slightly off-topic, but is it operated by the Brits or the French? Or does the network change in the middle of the tunnel?

 

[MrJeeves]

Interesting! Slightly off-topic, but is it operated by the Brits or the French? Or does the network change in the middle of the tunnel?

French-bound tunnel is covered by UK networks, English-bound tunnel covered by the French.

Three UK only covers the first half of the France-bound tunnel. Other three networks have a base station equipment room on the French side to feed the second half of the tunnel from the other end.

I know EE went live with this coverage in late 2014 for the French-end, and early 2015 for the English-end.

 

[Bletchleyite]

After thinking a bit, I'm pretty confident that GWR's Class 800 trains display the time intermittently on these green dot matrix screens inside the coaches, so some UK trains do display the current time.

350s do, as do 700s. Most newer stock does.

 

[styles]

I thought the e320s did show the time, and I thought I remembered the timezone flicking on it upon tunnel exit when I travelled on it this time last year.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2025 ==

I just found this article with photos in luxed which suggests they do at least sometimes show the time: https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2024/08/chunneling-to-london-eurostar-is-smooth-quiet-and-good-value/

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jul 2025 ==

Also this one but from 10 years ago showing a different PIS layout also with the time https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/news/22050/eurostar-unveils-new-sleek-e320-train/

Perhaps it's a recent change to ditch the time?

 

[Full Standing]

I thought the e320s did show the time, and I thought I remembered the timezone flicking on it upon tunnel exit when I travelled on it this time last year.

Maybe I'm also remembering it incorrectly. This is one of the small things where memory can betray you easily if you're not looking explicitly for it. I think it's a similar thing with eyewitness accounts after an accident. I raised this question on the forum as I had a phone call with a friend yesterday and we somehow came to talk about this.

In support of my view, there is a video from 2022 by the Dutch Youtuber trainviking [1] of a trip on an e320, and around minutes 15:43, 15:16, 16:45, and 19:04 the PIS screens are visible, and they don't show the time.

[1]

 

[TFN]

On the e320s, if the PIS is setup then the time isn’t shown. If it’s just a blue screen with the Eurostar logo on it then it shows the time on one of the bottom (left?) corners.

 

[MrJeeves]

I have this picture from an e320 e300 last April showing the speed and time:



And another from December 2023 showing the time:

 

[TFN]

I have this picture from an e320 last April showing the speed and time:

View attachment 184380

And another from December 2023 showing the time:

View attachment 184381

Isn’t that a refurbed e300?

 

[MrJeeves]

Isn’t that a refurbed e300?

Oh, bugger, yes they are both e300s.

 

[station_road]

No time shown on the current display (image shows video screen on a London bound E320 at Amsterdam)

 

[AdamWW]

No time shown on the current display (image shows video screen on a London bound E320 at Amsterdam)

Rather impressive - showing stops in four countries (albeit all pick up only).

 

[Full Standing]

Thanks for all the contributions!

I think we can summarise the comments as follows: PIS on e320 doesn't show time in normal operation, but does so if it isn't set up for a particular journey (in which case it shows the time & Eurostar logo on blue background).
The dot matrix screens on the e300 trains show the time intermittently.

Remains the question whether there is any particular reason for this given that most modern day PIS do display the time (even the e300's). But we probably won't come to a conclusion here without internal Eurostar knowledge.

 

[contrex]

After thinking a bit, I'm pretty confident that GWR's Class 800 trains display the time intermittently on these green dot matrix screens inside the coaches

The last one I was on, last Wed, Cardiff Central - Paddington did. And it agreed with my phone and my quartz watch.