Separate tickets for Eurostar > TGV connection

[markle]

Looking to plan a trip next summer from London to the Alps, travelling by Eurostar and TGV.

It seems that Eurostar tickets go on sale significantly earlier than TGV tickets, and if I wait for TGV tickets to become available, I will end up paying a significant premium for a through ticket as the Eurostar component of the journey will be much more expensive as it will be booked closer to the departure date.

Therefore it seems likely that booking separate tickets for Eurostar and TGV, each at the time tickets go on sale, will be cheaper.

However when booking separate tickets, is there any protection / rebooking available in the event of a missed connection due to a service delay? Or is this a case of relying on travel insurance to cover the cost of replacement tickets if needed?

 

[jfollows]

For example, https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/connecting-train#Missed-Connection

Missed a connection on our routes between France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany​

Whether a delay on a high-speed train is going to cause you to miss your Eurostar, or a delay on your Eurostar journey is going to cause you to miss a connecting train, don’t worry.
As member of the Railteam alliance, Eurostar gives you the possibility to benefit from the HOTNAT (Hop On The Next Available Train) programme.
Since 1 September 2024, Eurostar is officially part of the AJC programme which allows you to catch the next available connecting train on the same operator, at no extra cost.
What you need to do:
1. Speak to a member of staff on your delayed train or at the connecting station. They will give you a form to prove that you missed your train because of disruption.
2. Show your form to ticket office staff at your connecting station. They will advise you which train you can catch as an alternative and give you a replacement ticket for travel at no extra cost.
Just so you know, at busy times the next available train might be later the same day or the following day. To learn more about HOTNAT and AJC, please visit our FAQ section below.

What is HOTNAT (Hop On The Next Available Train)?​

​

HOTNAT(opens in a new tab) is a service offered by Railteam, an alliance of European rail companies operating international high-speed trains within Europe (Eurostar, DB, SNCF, ÖBB, SBB, NS and SNCB). If you miss your connecting high-speed train because your first train is delayed, HOTNAT lets you catch the next available train leaving the same station at no extra cost. Speak to the train manager on your delayed train or a staff member at the station for any assistance.
The following conditions apply:
• Your missed connection must be between two high-speed trains operated by members of the Railteam alliance.
• You must catch a connecting train from the station your missed connection departed from (if you’re catching a connecting train in Paris, Paris Gare du Nord, Paris Gare de l’Est, Paris Gare de Lyon and Paris Montparnasse are considered one station).
• You can only catch the next train with availability, with no seat or onboard service guaranty.

Just so you know, at busy times the next available train might be later the same day or the following day. HOTNAT does not give you the option to:

• Postpone the journey to a later date
• Get your ticket refunded
• Get free accommodation if the next available train is the following day.

What is AJC (Agreement on Journey Continuation)?
​

We're also part of the AJC programme. That means you can catch the next available connecting train on the same operator at no extra cost. So, if a delay on a Eurostar train means miss your connecting regional or local NS train in Amsterdam or Rotterdam, you can get on the next available NS train to the same destination.
Similarly, were you to miss your Eurostar connection from Amsterdam or Rotterdam due to a delay on your NS train, you’ll be booked on to the next available Eurostar train. Speak to the train manager on your delayed train or a staff member at the station for any assistance.
There are 19 participating rail companies across continental Europe in the agreement, you can find out more here(opens in a new tab)(opens a PDF).
Just so you know, at busy times the next available train might be later the same day or the following day. AJC does not give you the option to:

• Postpone the journey to a later date
• Get your ticket refunded
• Get free accommodation if the next available train is the following day.

 

[markle]

Amazing, thanks. The Railteam pages aren't explicit that this covers trips made with separate tickets for each leg, but I see from further searching on this forum that previous discussion has confirmed that it is covered.

 

[Watershed]

You will get rebooked onto the next available train for free under HOTNAT and AJC.

However, the protections against missed connections go no further than that. You won't get delay compensation based on the delay in arriving at your final destination (even if that is much longer than the delay arriving into your interchange station). You won't get food/drinks reimbursed during the wait for the next available train.

And if you are unlucky you might have a very long wait for the next train with spare seats. It might even be the next day or in extreme cases (e.g. during severe disruption, like the coordinated LGV sabotage attacks), a few days later. You won't get reimbursed for your overnight accommodation costs during this wait. In Paris that could add up to a substantial sum.

This is why I view it as essential to have good travel insurance to cover these risks. Not all insurance policies cover international connections or all of the losses/costs I outlined above - it is important to read the policy wording in detail to see what would and wouldn't be covered with a prospective policy.

 

[markle]

Yep, it's a fair shout. My insurance will cover £300 extra costs in this situation per person - so travelling as a family of four we'd get £1,200. I'm pretty comfortable with this level of cover.

 

[Mainline421]

And if you are unlucky you might have a very long wait for the next train with spare seats. It might even be the next day or in extreme cases (e.g. during severe disruption, like the coordinated LGV sabotage attacks), a few days later. You won't get reimbursed for your overnight accommodation costs during this wait. In Paris that could add up to a substantial sum.

I don't know where you're getting that from, but that's not how it works. They'll give you a slip with a HOTNAT stamp and tell you to get on the next train, it's highly unlikely they'll even attempt to book a seat reservation, and they won't leave you hanging around.

 

[Gordon]

Therefore it seems likely that booking separate tickets for Eurostar and TGV, each at the time tickets go on sale, will be cheaper.

However when booking separate tickets, is there any protection / rebooking available in the event of a missed connection due to a service delay? Or is this a case of relying on travel insurance to cover the cost of replacement tickets if needed?

I have always booked separately to get the best deals and to be able to choose what trains to use. It's a simple enough process nowadays with online booking to get the 'best available' Eurostar fare, then pick an onward train from wherever (you don't say where you plan to get a TGV from) later. To mitigate possible missed connections, just work in a long enough layover at the change point

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't know where you're getting that from, but that's not how it works. They'll give you a slip with a HOTNAT stamp and tell you to get on the next train, it's highly unlikely they'll even attempt to book a seat reservation, and they won't leave you hanging around.

Connecting onto "Eurostar Blue" is probably an exception there, as tunnel regs don't allow them to carry standees. For TGV etc probably, and for ICE (which isn't usually compulsory reservation) certainly.

 

[styles]

And if you are unlucky you might have a very long wait for the next train with spare seats. It might even be the next day or in extreme cases (e.g. during severe disruption, like the coordinated LGV sabotage attacks), a few days later. You won't get reimbursed for your overnight accommodation costs during this wait. In Paris that could add up to a substantial sum.

And worst of all, you'd have to spend time in Paris.

 

[markle]

And worst of all, you'd have to spend time in Paris.

I think there are far worse things in life than an extra night or two in Paris with meals and accommodation covered by one's travel insurance.

 

[D6130]

And worst of all, you'd have to spend time in Paris.

When our evening Eurostar from Paris was cancelled during the signallers' strike in France last year, my wife and I were given free hotel accommodation for the night....just around the corner from Gare du Nord. The only problem was that they rebooked us onto the first train the following morning, so we only had four and a half hours sleep.

 

[Heartybob]

Eurostar runs a regular service from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam that stops en route at Brussels Midi and Antwerp Central. However, it seems not to be possible to book a through ticket from St Pancras International to Antwerp changing in Paris, only separate tickets. Also it seems to be impossible in any way to book from Brussels Midi to Antwerp Central even though the trains all stop at Brussels. Am I missing a trick or is this just how it is? From a long time lurker with my first time post.

 

[signed]

Am I missing a trick or is this just how it is?

Eurostar (and NS in Belgium) can't legally ferry passenger domestically in Belgium or the Netherlands due to the fact their entire network is tendered and not open-access (like France LGV)

However, it seems not to be possible to book a through ticket from St Pancras International to Antwerp changing in Paris, only separate tickets.

Why would you want to do this? Getting the direct Eurostar and a SNCB train to Antwerp will be much faster and much cheaper. There is a direct train every 30min at XX:20 and XX:50 plus a longer one at XX:56, all for 9.2€/adult

 

[Trainbike46]

Eurostar runs a regular service from Paris Gare du Nord to Amsterdam that stops en route at Brussels Midi and Antwerp Central. However, it seems not to be possible to book a through ticket from St Pancras International to Antwerp changing in Paris, only separate tickets. Also it seems to be impossible in any way to book from Brussels Midi to Antwerp Central even though the trains all stop at Brussels. Am I missing a trick or is this just how it is? From a long time lurker with my first time post.

Firstly, the logical route for London-Antwerp is with a change in Brussels, available as a single ticket from Eurostar, (select "any Belgian station" as destination). The travel from Brussels to Antwerp will be with the (frequent) NMBS/SNCB trains.

Secondly, As @signed has said, Eurostar does not carry passengers wholly within Belgium or the Netherlands, so you can't use Eurostar for Brussels-Antwerp

 

[rvdborgt]

Eurostar (and NS in Belgium) can't legally ferry passenger domestically in Belgium or the Netherlands due to the fact their entire network is tendered and not open-access (like France LGV)

They can and they did, for quite a long time. It's only recently Eurostar chose not to do it anymore. Carrying domestic passengers is allowed, but you must announce it in advance and the concession/contract holders can submit objections, which then need to be evaluated and decided on. Also note that in the Netherlands, NS is the operator (and "Eurostar" is just a brand of NS) but the domestic Thalys/Eurostar tickets were discontinued a few years ago.

 

[signed]

They can and they did, for quite a long time. It's only recently Eurostar chose not to do it anymore. Carrying domestic passengers is allowed, but you must announce it in advance and the concession/contract holders can submit objections, which then need to be evaluated and decided on. Also note that in the Netherlands, NS is the operator (and "Eurostar" is just a brand of NS) but the domestic Thalys/Eurostar tickets were discontinued a few years ago.

That is interesting and absolutely not what I thought, thanks

 

[AdamWW]

They can and they did,

Indeed - and a few years ago during an NS strike Thalys (as it was then) offered the only rail service between Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

 

[Heartybob]

Many thanks to all for your feedback which is interesting and very much appreciated. I've tried the "tickets to all stations in Belgium" option but it seems not to be working

 

[Amalie]

It’s worth to note that the Eurostars are not significantly faster between Brussels and Antwerp compared to regular Belgian intercities as there’s no high speed line between those cities. It does save some time by skipping a handful of stops: Brussels-Central, Brussels-North, Mechelen, and Brussels Airport (but not all intercities even serve the airport, if I recall correctly.) Although if I was staying over in Brussels, I’d much rather take a graffitied, beaten up intercity from Brussels Central to Antwerp over a sparkling new Eurostar in first class from Brussels South station.

Edit: Tickets from NMBS/SNCB from Brussels to Antwerp are also valid for the whole day, so you can buy it without worrying about making any certain connection.

 

[rvdborgt]

Many thanks to all for your feedback which is interesting and very much appreciated. I've tried the "tickets to all stations in Belgium" option but it seems not to be working

Tickets to "any Belgian station" don't exist anymore and Eurostar apparently haven't implemented anything else yet.
You can book London-Antwerp on www.b-europe.com though.

 

[johncrossley]

This is why I view it as essential to have good travel insurance to cover these risks. Not all insurance policies cover international connections or all of the losses/costs I outlined above - it is important to read the policy wording in detail to see what would and wouldn't be covered with a prospective policy.

Can anyone name a good insurance policy that covers these things? Especially if you have actually claimed (which is the only way to find out if insurance actually works).

 

[Watershed]

Can anyone name a good insurance policy that covers these things? Especially if you have actually claimed (which is the only way to find out if insurance actually works).

Personally speaking I have travel insurance through the Post Office. Don't have any particular liking for the brand but the policy is underwritten by Collinson and they have been decent on the couple of occasions I have needed to claim. The flight delay compensation offering is the part that attracted me the most if I'm honest - you used to get £50 for a 1 hour departure delay, that's since been reduced to £25 and now they are requiring the delay to be 2 hours to qualify. But still, it's more generous than anything I've seen anywhere else and as someone who flies 50+ times a year typically, it's generally more than paid for my policy!

 

[Joe Paxton]

That's quite a lot of flying! (Perhaps particularly for someone who's quite a committed contributor to a rail forum.)

 

[Watershed]

That's quite a lot of flying! (Perhaps particularly for someone who's quite a committed contributor to a rail forum.)

I wear multiple hats; I'm a keen flyer as well as rail traveller

 

[markle]

Can anyone name a good insurance policy that covers these things? Especially if you have actually claimed (which is the only way to find out if insurance actually works).

The free HSBC Premier insurance policy covers up to £1000 per person for:

alternative travel and accommodation costs to enable the insured person to reach their destination if their pre-booked transport is missed because of an unexpected transport delay, such as the vehicle they’re travelling in breaking down, or public transport being delayed or cancelled.

Never had to claim with them but they tend to get favourable reviews.

 

[MartinC]

The free HSBC Premier insurance policy covers up to £1000 per person for:



Never had to claim with them but they tend to get favourable reviews.

"The cover is for you (the HSBC account holder) and your domestic partner - if you're both under 70 years of age on the start date of your trip"

 

[Tester]

"The cover is for you (the HSBC account holder) and your domestic partner - if you're both under 70 years of age on the start date of your trip"

You also need a lazy £100,000 to tuck away to get the Premier status!

 

[Snow1964]

Looking to plan a trip next summer from London to the Alps, travelling by Eurostar and TGV.

It seems that Eurostar tickets go on sale significantly earlier than TGV tickets, and if I wait for TGV tickets to become available, I will end up paying a significant premium for a through ticket as the Eurostar component of the journey will be much more expensive as it will be booked closer to the departure date.

Therefore it seems likely that booking separate tickets for Eurostar and TGV, each at the time tickets go on sale, will be cheaper.

Tickets now on sale in France

Starting March 11, tickets for TGV INOUI to France and Europe, TGV Lyria, and OUIGO TGV will be available for travel between July 4 and December 12, and for INTERCITÉS routes, reservations will be open until September 16. Passengers will thus be able to take advantage of new offers and seasonal destinations to travel this summer in France and Europe with SNCF Voyageurs.

Ticket sales for TGV INOUI, OUIGO, and INTERCITÉS are now open

SNCF Voyageurs has opened ticket sales for services offered by TGV INOUI, OUIGO, and INTERCITÉS.

www.railwaypro.com

Maybe UK is less efficient, but will struggle to buy tickets for trains through to early December yet. Not helpful if planning a summer trip and need a connection from local station.

 

[markle]

Thanks, booked the TGV tickets when they came onsale earlier this week.

Very happy with the prices - with my Carte Avantage first class worked out about €30 more expensive in total for 4 hour each way round trip for a family of 4.