SephenWorceste
Member
- Joined
- 29 Aug 2012
- Messages
- 468
I travelled back to the United Kingdom on a Eurostar from Brussels on Friday afternoon. The train stopped at Lille as expected. I had a tight connection in London so made sure I was off the train quickly to get in the queue for a passport check. I was very surpassed that there was no passport check at St Pancras. I just walked past the booths. This is the first time this has happened to me and a welcome improvement. I wondered:
Is this normal now as Brussels Lille passengers are dealt with separately?
Perhaps no Brussels Lille passengers were booked on the train?
They had abandoned checks because of the computer fault earlier in the week?
I was lucky this time and it is all random?
Of course at Brussels I had my ticket checked, Belgium passport check, UK passport check and security screening. All in less than ten minutes. On the train there was a ticket check.
The only problem I had was before both Eurostar journeys. The Eurostar staff initially did not like my Deutsche Bahn issued (postal) tickets. They told me I had a ticket but no reservation on the way out and a reservation but no ticket on the way back. On the way back I was now expecting trouble and made it clear I was having no nonsense. On the way back I was issued with a boarding card and they tried to keep my ticket. I asked for it back as my onward ticket from London was CIV protected. Other than that the Eurostar was lovely.
Thank you for the help of this forum (and Seat 61). You gave me the confidence to take this trip and my previous two trips. France, Spain and Germany done. Perhaps Italy next year. Without your help I would have probably taken an aircraft and missed some fantastic experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Best wishes, Stephen.
Is this normal now as Brussels Lille passengers are dealt with separately?
Perhaps no Brussels Lille passengers were booked on the train?
They had abandoned checks because of the computer fault earlier in the week?
I was lucky this time and it is all random?
Of course at Brussels I had my ticket checked, Belgium passport check, UK passport check and security screening. All in less than ten minutes. On the train there was a ticket check.
The only problem I had was before both Eurostar journeys. The Eurostar staff initially did not like my Deutsche Bahn issued (postal) tickets. They told me I had a ticket but no reservation on the way out and a reservation but no ticket on the way back. On the way back I was now expecting trouble and made it clear I was having no nonsense. On the way back I was issued with a boarding card and they tried to keep my ticket. I asked for it back as my onward ticket from London was CIV protected. Other than that the Eurostar was lovely.
Thank you for the help of this forum (and Seat 61). You gave me the confidence to take this trip and my previous two trips. France, Spain and Germany done. Perhaps Italy next year. Without your help I would have probably taken an aircraft and missed some fantastic experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life.
Best wishes, Stephen.
