Eurostar
Parts of this article (those related to the recent merger with Thalys) need to be updated.(October 2023) |
Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Main stations(s) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fleet size |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stations called at | 28[citation needed] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parent company |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reporting mark | ES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | www | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Eurostar is an international high-speed rail service in Western Europe, connecting Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The service is operated by the Eurostar Group which was formed from the merger of Eurostar, which operated trains through the Channel Tunnel to the United Kingdom, and Thalys which operated in Western Europe. The operator is exploring future network expansions and aims to double passenger numbers by 2030.[1]
History
Conception and planning
The history of the Eurostar brand can be traced to the choice in 1986 of a rail tunnel to provide a cross-channel link between Britain and France.[2] A previous attempt to construct a tunnel between the two nations had begun in 1974, but was quickly aborted. Construction began afresh in 1988. Eurotunnel was created to manage and own the tunnel, which was finished in 1993, the official opening taking place on 6 May 1994.[3]
In addition to the tunnel's shuttle trains carrying cars and lorries between Folkestone and Calais, the tunnel opened up the possibility of through passenger and freight train services between places further afield.[4] British Rail and France's SNCF contracted with Eurotunnel to use half the tunnel's capacity for this purpose. In 1987, Britain, France and Belgium set up an International Project Group to specify a train to provide an international high-speed passenger service through the tunnel. France had been operating high-speed TGV services since 1981, and had begun construction of a new high-speed line between Paris and the Channel Tunnel, LGV Nord; French TGV technology was chosen as the basis for the new trains. An order for 30 trainsets, to be manufactured in France but with some British and Belgian components, was placed in December 1989.[citation needed] On 20 June 1993, the first Eurostar test train travelled through the tunnel to the UK.[5] Various technical difficulties in running the new trains on British tracks were quickly overcome.[6]
Launch of service
On 14 November 1994, Eurostar services began running from Waterloo International station in London, to Paris Nord, as well as Brussels-South railway station.[4][7][8] The train service started with a limited Discovery service; the full daily service started from 28 May 1995.[9]
In 1995, Eurostar was achieving an average end-to-end speed of 171.5 km/h (106.6 mph) from London to Paris.[10] On 8 January 1996, Eurostar launched services from a second railway station in the UK when Ashford International was opened.[11]
Also in 1996, Eurostar commenced its year-round service to Disneyland with the first train running on 29 June. The following year saw the introduction of services to the French Alps during the winter.[12]
On 20 July 2002 a summer seasonal service to Avignon-Centre was launched. The service ran until 2014 after which it was replaced on 1 May 2015 by an expanded service calling at Avignon TGV and also serving Lyon and Marseille.[12]
On 23 September 2003, passenger services began running on the first completed section of High Speed 1.[5] Following a high-profile glamorous opening ceremony[13] and a large advertising campaign,[14] on 14 November 2007, Eurostar services in London transferred from Waterloo to the extended and extensively refurbished London St Pancras International.[15]
Direct services from London to Amsterdam (returning to Brussels only) were launched on 4 April 2018. This service was made a return service on 26 October 2020.[16]
Records achieved
The Channel Tunnel used by Eurostar services holds the record for having the longest underwater section of any tunnel in the world,[17] and it is the third-longest railway tunnel (behind the Seikan Tunnel and the Gotthard Base Tunnel) in the world.[18]
On 30 July 2003, a Eurostar train set a new British speed record of 334.7 km/h (208.0 mph) on the first section of the "High Speed 1" railway between the Channel Tunnel,[5][7] and Fawkham Junction in north Kent, two months before official public services began running.
On 16 May 2006, Eurostar set a new record for the longest non-stop high-speed journey, a distance of 1,421 km (883 miles) from London to Cannes taking 7 hours 25 minutes.[19]
On 4 September 2007, a record-breaking train left Paris Nord at 10:44 (09:44 BST) and reached London St Pancras International in 2 hours 3 minutes 39 seconds,[20] carrying journalists and railway workers. This record trip was also the first passenger-carrying arrival at the new London St Pancras International station.[21] On 20 September 2007, Eurostar broke another record when it completed the journey from Brussels to London in 1 hour 43 minutes.[22]
Regional Eurostar and Nightstar
The original proposals for Eurostar included direct services to Paris and Brussels from cities north of London: Manchester Piccadilly via Birmingham New Street on the West Coast Main Line and Leeds and Glasgow Central via Edinburgh Waverley, Newcastle and York on the East Coast Main Line.[23]
Seven 14-coach "North of London" Eurostar trains for these Regional Eurostar services were built, but these services never came to fruition. Predicted journey times of almost nine hours for Glasgow to Paris at the time of growth of low-cost air travel during the 1990s made the plans commercially unviable against the cheaper and quicker airlines.[24] Other reasons that have been suggested for these services having never been run were both government policies and the disruptive privatisation of British Rail.[25] Three of the Regional Eurostar units were leased by Great North Eastern Railway (GNER) to increase domestic services from London King's Cross to York and later Leeds.[26][27] The lease expired in December 2005, and most of the North of London sets were transferred to SNCF for TGV services in northern France.[28][29]
An international Nightstar sleeper train was also planned; this would have travelled the same routes as Regional Eurostar, plus the Great Western Main Line to Cardiff Central.[30] These were also deemed commercially unviable, and the scheme was abandoned with no services ever operated. In 2000, the coaches were sold to Via Rail in Canada.[31][32]
Merger with Thalys
On 27 September 2019, the heads of two of Eurostar's major shareholders, Guillaume Pepy of SNCF, and the chair of SNCB, Sophie Dutordoir [fr; nl], publicised that Eurostar was planning to come together with its sister company the Franco-Belgian transnational rail service Thalys.[33][34] The arrangement is to merge their operations under the working title of "Green Speed" and expand services outside the core London-Paris-Brussels-Amsterdam service, to create a grand Western European high-speed rail service covering the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, serving up to 30 million customers by 2030.[35][36]
As of 2019,[update] Thalys assisted Eurostar with onward connections between Amsterdam and Brussels, and to provide the Amsterdam to London service, in lieu of passport and customs checks at Amsterdam Centraal station.
In September 2020, the merger between Thalys and Eurostar International was confirmed,[37] a year after Thalys announced its intention to merge with the cross-Channel provider subject to gaining European Commission clearance, to form "Green Speed". SNCF and SNCB already hold a controlling shareholding in Eurostar. In October 2021, it was announced that, following the completion of the merger, the Thalys brand would be discontinued, with all of the new operation's services to be operated under the Eurostar name but with each service's own liveries.[38]
In October 2023, the Eurostar brand replaced Thalys, operating as one network and combining ticket sales in a single system.[39]
Corporate structure
Eurostar was originally operated as a collaboration of three separate French, British and Belgian corporate entities. On 1 September 2010, Eurostar was incorporated as a single corporate entity, Eurostar International Limited (EIL), replacing the joint operation between EUKL, SNCF and SNCB/NMBS.[40] EIL is ultimately owned by SNCF (55%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) (30%), Hermes Infrastructure (10%) and SNCB (5%).[41][42][43]
Impact of COVID-19
By January 2021, Eurostar ridership went down to less than 1% of pre-pandemic levels.[44] The combined financial troubles and lack of ridership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to Eurostar seeking governmental assistance from Britain's Treasury and Department for Transport, even though Britain sold its 40% Eurostar holding in 2015.[44][45][46] Eurostar's appeal included granting the company access to Bank of England-backed loans and a temporary reduction in track access charges for use of the UK's high-speed rail line.[44] Despite being majority-owned by the French state railway, SNCF, Eurostar was thought to have already exhausted options for governmental assistance from Paris,[47] but both the French transport minister and the UK Department for Transport confirmed they were working on further plans to maintain the service.[48]
By the end of 2022, Eurostar had debts of €964m, following French bailouts and commercial loans.[49] Ridership levels returned to around 8 million in 2022, however this figure was still 3 million below 2019 levels.[49] Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Eurostar has not served the Ashford International or Ebbsfleet International stations in the UK, or Calais Frethun in France, and has withdrawn its Disneyland Paris and Avignon services, as part of plans to focus on the most profitable routes.[50][49]
Mainline routes
LGV Nord (France)
The LGV Nord (French: Ligne à Grande Vitesse Nord, English: north high-speed line) is a 333-kilometre-long (207 mi) French high-speed rail line that connects Paris with the HSL 1 at the Belgium–France border and the Channel Tunnel. It opened in 1993.[51] Of all French high-speed lines, LGV Nord sees the widest variety of high-speed rolling stock and is quite busy; a proposed cut-off bypassing Lille, which would reduce Eurostar journey times, is called LGV Picardie.
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is the only rail connection between Great Britain and the European mainland. It joins LGV Nord in France with High Speed 1 in Britain. Tunnelling began in 1988, and the 50.5 km (31.4-mile) tunnel was officially opened by British sovereign, Elizabeth II, and the French President, François Mitterrand, on 6 May 1994.[3] It is owned by Getlink, which charges a toll to Eurostar for its use.[52] Within the Channel Tunnel, Eurostar trains operate at a reduced speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) for safety reasons.[53][54] Since the launch of Eurostar services, severe disruptions and cancellations have been caused by fires breaking out within the Channel Tunnel, such as in 1996[55] and 2008.[56]
HSL 1 (Belgium)
The HSL 1 (Dutch: Hogesnelheidslijn 1, English: High-Speed Line 1) is a 88 km-long (55 mi) Belgian high-speed rail line that connects Brussels with the LGV Nord at the Belgium–France border. It opened on 14 December 1997.[57][58] Prior to the opening of the HSL 1, Eurostar trains were routed via the slower traditional Belgian railway line 94. A further four-minute improvement for London–Brussels trains was achieved in December 2006, with the opening of the 435 m (1,427 ft) Brussels South Viaduct. Linking the international platforms of Brussels-South railway station with the high-speed line, the viaduct separates Eurostar from local services.[59]
High Speed 1 (United Kingdom)
High Speed 1, formerly known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), is a 108 km-long (67 mi) British high-speed rail line that connects London with the Channel Tunnel.[60][61] It opened in two stages. The first section between the tunnel and north Kent opened in September 2003, cutting journey times by 21 minutes. On 14 November 2007, commercial services began over the whole of the High Speed 1 reducing journey times by a further 20 minutes.[62][63] The line's London terminal is London St Pancras International, which was redeveloped for the project.[64]
HSL-Zuid (Netherlands)
The HSL-Zuid (Dutch: Hogesnelheidslijn Zuid, English: South high-speed line), is a 125 km-long (78 mi) Dutch high-speed railway line that connects Amsterdam with the HSL 4 at the Belgum-Netherlands border. It opened on 7 September 2009.[65]
Services
Frequency
Eurostar offers up to 15 weekday London – Paris services (19 on Fridays) including nine non-stop (13 on Fridays). There are also nine (ten on Friday) London–Brussels services, of which two run non-stop (continuing to Amsterdam) and a further two call at Lille only. Four services daily operate to Amsterdam via Brussels and Rotterdam, some calling at Lille.[66][67] There were also seasonal services: in the winter, "Snow trains",[68] aimed at skiers, to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Aime-la-Plagne and Moûtiers in the Alps; these ran weekly, arriving in the alps in the evening and leaving the same evening to arrive in London the following morning.[69] This service was confirmed as withdrawn in August 2023, and its future is unknown.[70]
In February 2018, Eurostar announced the start of its long-planned service from London to Amsterdam, with an initial two trains per day from April of that year running between London St Pancras International and Amsterdam Centraal. This launched as a one-way service, with return trains carrying passengers to Rotterdam and Brussels Midi/Zuid, making a 28-minute stop (which was not deemed long enough to process UK-bound passengers) and then carrying different passengers from Brussels to London.[71] Initially passengers travelling back took a Thalys service to Brussels Midi/Zuid where they could join the Eurostar. This was due to the lack of facilities for juxtaposed controls by the UK Border Force at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal. On 4 February 2020, the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, and the UK Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, announced that juxtaposed controls would be established at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal. The direct train from Amsterdam was originally due to launch on 30 April 2020, and from Rotterdam on 18 May 2020,[72][73] although it was later postponed to 26 October 2020 for both cities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[74][75]
Since 14 November 2007, all Eurostar trains have been routed via High Speed 1 to or from the redeveloped London terminus at London St Pancras International, which at a cost of £800 million was extensively rebuilt and extended to cope with 394 m (431-yard) long Eurostar trains.[15][76][77] It had been intended to retain some Eurostar services at Waterloo International, but this was ruled out on cost grounds.[78] Completion of High Speed 1 increased the potential number of trains serving London. Separation of Eurostar from British domestic services through Kent meant that timetabling was no longer affected by peak-hour restrictions.
Fares
Eurostar's fares were significantly higher in its early years; the cheapest fare in 1994 was £99 return.[79] In 2002, Eurostar was planning cheaper fares, an example of which was an offer of £50-day returns from London to Paris or Brussels. By March 2003, the cheapest fare from the UK was £59 return, available all year around.[79] In June 2009 it was announced that one-way single fares would be available at £31 at the cheapest. Competition between Eurostar and airline services was a large factor in ticket prices being reduced from the initial levels.[80][81] Business Premier fares also slightly undercut air fares on similar routes, targeted at regular business travellers.[82] In 2009, Eurostar greatly increased its budget ticket availability to help maintain and grow its dominant market share.[citation needed] The Eurostar ticketing system is very complex, being distributed through no fewer than 48 individual sales systems.[83] Eurostar is a member of the Amadeus CRS distribution system, making its tickets available alongside those of airlines worldwide.[84]
Eurostar has two sub-classes of first class: Standard Premier and Business Premier; benefits include guaranteed faster checking-in and meals served at-seat, as well as the improved furnishings and interior of carriages.[85] The rebranding is part of Eurostar's marketing drive to attract more business professionals.[86] Increasingly, business people in a group have been chartering private carriages as opposed to individual seats on the train.[87]
Service connections
Without the operation of Regional Eurostar services using the North of London trainsets across the rest of Britain, Eurostar has developed its connections with other transport services instead, such as integrating effectively with traditional UK rail operators' schedules and routes, making it possible for passengers to use Eurostar as a quick connection to further destinations on the continent.[88] All three main terminals used by the Eurostar service – London St Pancras International, Paris Nord, and Brussels-South – are served by domestic trains and by local urban transport networks such as the London Underground, Paris Metro, Brussels Metro and Amsterdam Metro. Standard Eurostar tickets no longer include free onward connections to or from any other station in Belgium: this is now available for a flat-rate supplement, currently £5.50.[89]
Eurostar has announced several partnerships with other rail services,[90] most notably Thalys connections at Lille and Brussels for passengers to go beyond current Eurostar routes towards the Netherlands and Germany.[91] In 2002, Eurostar initiated the Eurostar-Plus program, offering connecting tickets for onward journeys from Lille and Paris to dozens of destinations in France. Through fares are also available from 68 British towns and cities to destinations in France and Belgium.[92] In May 2009 Eurostar announced that a formal connection to Switzerland had been established in a partnership between Eurostar and Lyria, which will operate TGV services from Lille to the Swiss Alps for Eurostar connection.[93][94][95]
In May 2019, Eurostar ended its agreement with Deutsche Bahn that allowed passengers to travel by train from the UK to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Under the agreement passengers could travel on a single booking which made rescheduling easier. However, the direct tickets ceased to be sold from 9 November 2019.[96]
Controls and security
Because the UK is not part of the European Union or the Schengen Area,[97] and because the Netherlands, Belgium and France are not part of the Common Travel Area, all cross-channel Eurostar passengers must go through border controls. Both the British Government and the Schengen governments concerned (Belgium, Netherlands and France) have legal obligations to check the travel documents of those entering and leaving their respective countries.
To allow passengers to walk off the train without arrival checks in most cases, juxtaposed controls ordinarily take place at the embarkation station.
To comply with UK law,[98] there are full security checks similar to those at airports, consisting of bag X-rays and walk-through metal detectors. The recommended check-in time is 90–120 minutes except for business class where it is 45–60 minutes; these are much longer than previously because of extra checks in place due to Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.[99]
Eurostar passengers travelling within the Schengen area on trains towards London bypass border checks, and enter the preallocated cars at the rear of the train, which are reserved for these passengers. This area is then searched at Lille and all passengers removed. This arrangement was set up after numerous people entered the UK without prior authorisation, by buying a ticket from Brussels to Lille or Calais but remaining on the train until London – an issue exacerbated by Belgian police threatening to arrest UK Border Agency staff at Brussels-South if they tried to prevent passengers whom they suspected of attempting to exploit this loophole from boarding Eurostar trains.[100] Travel from Calais or Lille towards Brussels and the Netherlands has no border or security control. On 7 July 2020, a modified agreement was signed in Brussels that includes The Netherlands in the previous agreement. This allows for juxtaposed controls in Amsterdam and Rotterdam like those in Brussels and Paris.[101]
When the tripartite agreements were signed, the Belgian Government said that it had serious questions about the compatibility of this agreement with the Schengen Convention and the principle of free movement of people enshrined in various European treaties.[102]
On 30 June 2009, Eurostar raised concerns at the UK House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee that it was illegal under French law to collect the information required by the UK government under the e-Borders scheme, and the company would be unable to cooperate.[103][104]
On the northbound Disneyland and ski trains, the security check and French passport check took place at the origin, while the UK passport check took place at the UK arrival stations. These were the only route where passengers are not cleared by UK border officials before crossing the Channel.
On the northbound Marseille-London train, there was no facility for security or passport checks at the southern French stations, so passengers left the train at Lille-Europe, taking all their belongings with them, and underwent security and border checks there before rejoining the train which waited at the station for just over an hour.[105]
On several occasions, people have tried to stow away illegally on board the train,[106] sometimes in large groups,[107] trying to enter the UK; border monitoring and security is therefore extremely tight.[108] Eurostar claims to have good and well-funded security measures.[109]
Operational performance
Eurostar's punctuality has fluctuated from year to year, but usually remains over 90%;[110] in the first quarter of 1999, 89% of services operated were on time, and in the second quarter it reached 92%.[111] Eurostar's best punctuality record was 97.35%, between 16 and 22 August 2004.[5] In 2006, it was 92.7%,[112] and in 2007, 91.5% were on time.[note 1][113] In the first quarter of 2009, 96% of Eurostar services were punctual, compared with rival air routes' 76%.[114]
An advantage held by Eurostar is the convenience and speed of the service: with shorter check-in times than at most airports and hence quicker boarding and less queueing[115][116] and high punctuality, it takes less time to travel between central London and central Paris by high-speed rail than by air. Eurostar now has a dominant share of the combined rail–air market on its routes to Paris and Brussels. In 2004, it had a 66% share of the London–Paris market, and a 59% share of the London–Brussels market.[117] In 2007, it achieved record market shares of 71% for London–Paris and 65% for London–Brussels routes.[118]
Eurostar's passenger numbers initially failed to meet predictions. In 1996, London and Continental Railways forecast that passenger numbers would reach 21.4 million annually by 2004,[119] but only 7.3 million was achieved. Eighty-two million passengers used Waterloo International Station from its opening in 1994 to its closure in 2007.[7] 2008 was a record year for Eurostar, with a 10.3% rise in passenger use, which was attributed to the use of High Speed 1 and the move to London St Pancras International.[120] The following year, Eurostar saw an 11.5% fall in passenger numbers[121] during the first three months of 2009, attributed to the 2008 Channel Tunnel fire[56] and the 2009 recession.[122]
As a result of the poor economic conditions, Eurostar received state aid in May 2009 to cancel out some of the accumulated debt from the High Speed 1 construction programme.[123] Later that year, during snowy conditions in the run-up to Christmas, thousands of passengers were left stranded as several trains broke down and many more were cancelled. In an independent review commissioned by Eurostar, the company came in for serious criticism about its handling of the incident and lack of plans for such a scenario.[124]
In 2006, the Department for Transport predicted that, by 2037, annual cross-channel passenger numbers would probably reach 16 million,[125] considerably less optimistic than London and Continental Railways's original 1996 forecast.[119] In 2007 Eurostar set a target of carrying 10 million passengers by 2010.[126] The company cited several factors to support this objective, such as improved journey times, punctuality and station facilities. Passengers in general, it stated, are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental effects of air travel, and Eurostar services emit much less carbon dioxide.[127] and that its remaining carbon emissions are now offset, making its services carbon neutral.[128][129] Further expansion of the high-speed rail network in Europe, such as the HSL-Zuid line between Belgium and the Netherlands, continues to bring more destinations within rail-competitive range, giving Eurostar the possibility of opening up new services in future.
The following chart presents the estimated number of passengers annually transported by the Eurostar service since 1995: [130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137]
In 2019, cumulative ridership since 1994 surpassed 200 million.[138] Eleven million passengers travelled on its international services during 2018, the highest ever, a 7% increase on the 10.3 million carried in 2017.[139]
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. There is more info on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org. |
Awards and accolades
Eurostar has been hailed as having set new standards in international rail travel and has won praise several times over for its high standards.[140][141][142] However, Eurostar had previously struggled with its reputation and brand image. One commentator had defined the situation at the time as:[143]
In June 2003, Eurostar was battling to recover from the worst period in its 10-year history. Negative media coverage combined with poor sales and the general public's low opinion of the British rail industry, created a major challenge... Eurostar was finding it difficult to pick itself up from one of the worst periods in its decade-long history. The period post 9/11 had sent the business into a downturn. Passenger numbers were drying up due to worries over international travel. Several management changes had led to a pause in strategy. Punctuality had suffered badly because of wider problems with the UK's rail infrastructure.
Eurostar won the Train Operator of the Year award in the HSBC Rail Awards for 2005.[90] In 2006, Eurostar's Environment Group was set up,[144] with the aim of making changes in the Eurostar services' daily running to decrease negative environmental impact.[145] The organisation set itself a target of reducing carbon emissions per passenger journey by 25% by 2012.[145] Drivers were trained in techniques to achieve maximum energy efficiency, and lighting was minimised; the provider of the bulk of the energy for the Channel Tunnel was switched to nuclear power stations in France.[145] Eurostar's target was to reduce emissions by 35 percent per passenger journey by 2012, putting itself beyond the efforts of other railway companies in this field and thereby winning the 2007 Network Rail Efficiency Award.[144] In the grand opening ceremony of London St Pancras International, one of the Eurostar trains was given the name 'Tread Lightly', said to symbolise their smaller impact on the environment compared to planes. By 2008, Eurostar's environmental credentials had become highly developed and promoted.[146]
Since then, Eurostar has received multiple awards. It was declared the Best Train Company in the joint Guardian/Observer Travel Awards 2008[147] and earned a spot on the Sunday Times' Best Green Companies List (2009).[148] Other awards include: ICARUS’ Environmental Award for Best Rail Provider (2009),[149] Guardian & Observer Travel Award for Best Train Company (2009),[150] Travel Weekly's Golden Globes Award for Best Rail Operator (2010),[151] World Travel Market's Responsible Tourism Award for Best Low Carbon Initiative (2011),[152] TNT Magazine's Gold Backpack Award for Favourite Travel Transport (2012),[153] World Travel Awards Europe's Leading Passenger Rail Operator (2011),[154] National Rail Awards Train of the Year (2017),[155] PETA's Travel Award for Best Travel Experience (2019),[156] Mobile Industry Awards' Distributor of the Year (2020).[157]
Environmental initiatives
In 2007, Eurostar said they would become the world's first carbon-neutral train service through its launch of "Tread Lightly," an environmental programme with the goal of reducing the service's carbon-dioxide emissions by 25% by 2012.[158][159][needs update] The programme included: reducing power consumption on its rolling stock; sourcing more electricity from lower-emission generators; adding new controls on lighting, heating, and air conditioning; reducing paper usage via electronic tickets; recycling water and employee uniforms; sourcing all food on board from Britain, France, or Belgium.[159] Eurostar also funded three renewable energy projects in developing regions around the world: a windfarm in Tamil Nadu, India; a micro-hydropower project in China; and a plan specifying improvements on fuel consumption of three-wheeler taxis in Indonesia.[158]
In 2019, Eurostar removed all single-use plastics from its trains between London and Paris.[160] Now the trains serve only wooden cutlery, recyclable cans of water, glass wine bottles, paper-based coffee cups, and eco-friendly food packaging.[160][161][162] Eurostar partnered with the Woodland Trust, ReforestAction, and Trees for All in 2020, with the goal of planting 20,000 trees each year in woodlands along its routes across the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Since Tread Lightly launched, Eurostar has reduced its carbon footprint by over 40% and now emits up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions than the equivalent flight.[160][161][162]
But in 2023 cycle booking was described as “farcical”.[163]
Railteam
Eurostar is a member of Railteam, a marketing alliance formed in July 2007 of seven European high-speed rail operators.[164] The alliance plans to allow tickets to be booked from one end of Europe to the other on a single website.[164] In June 2009 London and Continental Railways, and the Eurostar UK operations they held ownership of, became fully nationalised by the UK government.[165]
Domestic journeys on London services
Eurostar is not permitted to carry passengers on London services for journeys within one country, so passengers cannot travel (for example) from Lille to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy, London to Ashford, or Rotterdam to Amsterdam on a London service.[citation needed] Lille to Brussels is the only international intra-Schengen journey that Eurostar is offering for sale on London services.[166]
Fleet
Fleet details
Class | Image | Top speed | Carriages | Number in use | Unit numbers | Electric systems | Routes operated | Built | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
km/h | mph | ||||||||
International | |||||||||
Eurostar e300 | 300 | 186 | 2 power cars + 18 coaches | 11 |
|
|
1992–1996 | ||
Eurostar e320 | 320 | 200 | 16 self-propelled coaches | 17 |
|
|
2011–2018 | ||
Europe | |||||||||
PBA | 320 | 200 | 2 power cars + 8 coaches | 9 | 4532–4540 | 1996 | |||
PBKA | 17 |
|
1997 |
Current fleet
Eurostar e300
Built between 1992 and 1996, Eurostar's fleet consisted of 38 EMU trains, designated Class 373 in the United Kingdom and TGV TMST in France. The units have also been branded as the Eurostar e300 by Eurostar since 2015. There are two variants:
- 31 "Inter-Capital" sets consisting of two power cars and eighteen passenger carriages. These trains are 394 m (1,293 ft) long and can carry 750 passengers: 206 in first class, 544 in standard class.[167]
- Seven shorter "North of London" sets which have two power cars and fourteen passenger carriages and are 320 m (1,050 ft) long. These sets have a capacity of 558 seats: 114 first class, 444 standard and which were designed to operate the aborted Regional Eurostar services.
Each train has a unique four-digit number starting with "3" (3xxx). This designates the train as a Mark 3 TGV (Mark 1 being SNCF TGV Sud-Est; Mark 2 being SNCF TGV Atlantique). The second digit denotes the country of ownership:
- 30xx UK
- 31xx Belgium
- 32xx France
- 33xx Regional Eurostar
The trains are essentially modified TGV sets,[168][169] and can operate at up to 300 km/h (186 mph) on high-speed lines, and 160 km/h (100 mph) in the Channel Tunnel.[53][54] It is possible to exceed the 300 km/h speed limit, but only with special permission from the safety authorities in the respective country.[170] Speed limits in the Channel Tunnel are dictated by air-resistance, energy (heat) dissipation and the need to be used with other, slower trains. The trains were designed with Channel Tunnel safety in mind, and consist of two independent "half-sets" each with its own power car.[28][54] In the event of a serious fire on board while travelling through the tunnel, passengers would be transferred into the undamaged half of the train, which would then be detached and driven out of the tunnel to safety.[171] If the undamaged part were the rear half of the train, this would be driven by the Chef du Train (conductor), who is a fully authorized driver and occupies the rear driving cab while the train travels through the tunnel for this purpose.[172]
As the Class 374 units have entered service the Class 373 fleet has gradually been reduced. Eleven remain in regular service with 17 scrapped and ten in storage.
Fleet updates
In 2004–2005 the "Inter-Capital" sets still in daily use for international services were refurbished with a new interior designed by Philippe Starck.[5][173] The original grey-yellow scheme in Standard class and grey-red of First/Premium First were replaced with a grey-brown look in Standard and grey-burnt-orange in First class. Power points were added to seats in First class and coaches 5 and 14 in Standard class. Premium First class was renamed BusinessPremier.
In 2008, Eurostar announced that it would be carrying out a mid-life refurbishment of its Class 373 trains to allow the fleet to remain in service beyond 2020.[174] This will include the 28 units making up the Eurostar fleet, but not the three Class 373/1 units used by SNCF or the seven Class 373/2 "North of London" sets.[175] As part of the refurbishment, the Italian company Pininfarina was contracted to redesign the interiors,[176] and The Yard Creative was selected to design the new buffet cars.[177] On 11 May 2009 Eurostar revealed the new look for its first-class compartments.[178] The first refurbished train was due in service in 2012,[179] and Eurostar planned to complete the entire process by 2014. On 13 November 2014 Eurostar announced the first refurbished trains would not re-enter the fleet until the 3rd or 4th quarter of 2015 due to delays at the completion centre. The last refurbished e300 eventually re-entered service in April 2019.
Eurostar e320
In addition to the announced mid-life update of the existing Class 373 fleet, Eurostar in 2009 began looking to purchase eight new trainsets.[180] Any new trains would need to meet the same safety rules governing passage through the Channel Tunnel as the existing Class 373 fleet. The replacement to the Class 373 trains has been decided jointly between the French Transport Ministry and the UK Department for Transport. The new trains will be equipped to use the new ERTMS in-cab signalling system, due to be fitted to High Speed 1 around 2040.[181]
On 7 October 2010, it was reported that Eurostar had selected Siemens as preferred bidder to supply 10 Siemens Velaro[182] trainsets at a cost of €600 million[183] These would be sixteen-car, self-propelled, 400-metre-long (1,300 ft) trainsets built to meet Channel Tunnel requirements.[184] The top speed of the e320 trainsets is 320 km/h (200 mph) with 902 seats, compared to the e300 fleet which has a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) and a seating capacity of 750. Total traction power will be rated at 16 MW (21,000 hp).[182][185][186][187] The e320 trainsets would also be quadri-current, adding the ability to run on the 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC system used in Germany, allowing for an expanded route network, including services between London and Cologne.[184]
The selection of Siemens would see it break into the French high-speed market for the first time, as all French high-speed operators use TGV derivatives produced by Alstom.[188] Alstom attempted legal action to prevent Eurostar from acquiring the German-built trains, claiming that the Siemens sets would breach Channel Tunnel safety rules,[189] but the case was thrown out by the High Court in London.[190] On 4 November 2010, Alstom lodged a complaint with the European Commission over the tendering process.[191] Alstom then started legal action claiming that the Eurostar tender process was "ineffective",[192] the High Court rejected the second suit in July 2011.[193] In April 2012, Alstom said it would call off court actions against Siemens.[194]
On 13 November 2014, Eurostar announced the purchase of an additional seven e320s for delivery in the second half of 2016. At the same time, Eurostar announced the first five e320s from the original order of ten would be available by December 2015, with the remaining five entering service by May 2016. Of the five sets ready by December 2015, three of them were planned to be used on London-Paris and London-Brussels routes.[195]
Future fleet
In May 2024, Eurostar announced its intention to order up to 50 new trains.[196]
Past fleet
Class | Image | Type | Top speed | Number operated |
Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mph | km/h | |||||
Class 37 | Diesel locomotive | 90 | 145 | 12 | Intended to operate sleeper services over non-electrified parts of the railway network in Britain. Eurostar retained three locomotives for the rescue of failed trains, route learning and driver training, but sold them to Direct Rail Services when the new Temple Mills Depot opened in November 2007.[197] | |
Class 73 | Electro-diesel locomotive | 90 | 145 | 2 | Were used primarily to rescue failed trains. Eurostar operated two of these from its North Pole depot until 2007, when they were loaned to a pair of educational initiatives having become redundant following the move to Temple Mills.[198][199] | |
Class 92 | Electric locomotive | 87 | 140 | 7 | Intended to operate the Nightstar sleeper services. Eurostar owned seven units of this class, which never saw service until they were sold in 2007 to Europorte 2.[200] | |
Class 373 Eurostar e300 | EMU | 186 | 300 | 38 | 11 in operation, 10 in storage, 17 scrapped, 4 power cars preserved. |
Accidents and incidents
A number of technical incidents have affected Eurostar services over the years, but up to the present[update] there has only been one major accident involving a service operated by Eurostar, a derailment in June 2000. Other incidents in the Channel Tunnel – such as the 1996 and 2008 Channel Tunnel fires – have affected Eurostar services but were not directly related to Eurostar's operations. However, the breakdowns in the tunnel, which resulted in cessation of service and inconvenience to thousands of passengers, in the run-up to Christmas 2009, proved a public-relations disaster.[201]
2000
On 5 June 2000, a Eurostar train travelling from Paris to London derailed on the LGV Nord high-speed line while traveling at 290 km/h (180 mph). Fourteen people were treated for light injuries or shock, with no fatalities or major injuries. The articulated nature of the trainset was credited with maintaining stability during the incident and all of the train stayed upright.[202] The incident was caused by a traction link on the second bogie of the front power car coming loose, leading to components of the transmission system on that bogie impacting the track.[203]
2009
During the December 2009 European snowfall, five Eurostar trains broke down inside the Channel Tunnel, after leaving France, and one in Kent on 18 December. Although the trains had been winterised, the systems had not coped with the conditions.[204] Over 2,000 passengers were stuck inside failed trains inside the tunnel, and over 75,000 had their services disrupted.[205] All Eurostar services were cancelled from Saturday 19 December to Monday 21 December 2009.[206] An independent review, published on 12 February 2010, was critical of the contingency plans in place for assisting passengers stranded by the delays, calling them "insufficient".[207][208]
Future developments
Eurostar expansion
Eurostar and Thalys merged in 2023, with the intention to double combined passenger numbers from 14.8 million to 30 million.[1]
In an interview with Eurostar's former Chief Executive Nicolas Petrovic in the Financial Times in May 2012, an intention for cross-Channel Eurostar to serve ten new destinations was expressed, including Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Cologne, Lyon, Marseille and Geneva, along with a likely second hub to be created in Brussels.[209][210] London-Amsterdam services launched in 2018.
In March 2016, in an interview with Bloomberg, Eurostar's Chief Executive expressed interest in operating a direct train service between London and Bordeaux, but not before 2019. Journey time was said to be around 4.5 hours using the new LGV Sud Europe Atlantique.[211]
Operational difficulties with UK-Schengen trains
"We know we can go to most places in France physically, because our trains are compatible with French infrastructure, but then you've got to look at impact on fleet utilisation, you've got to have a station that's got the spare capacity to have a train stood for a number of hours, for all the security, screening, passport control passes. So it's not possible to go just anywhere. And you've got to be able to get the control authorities to agree that there's a big enough market for it to be worthwhile for them to set up there."
Richard Brown, former Chief Executive of Eurostar.[212]
The e320 trains allow Eurostar the possibility of London to Germany services in the future, but implementing such new services is complex. The UK is neither part of the Schengen Agreement,[97] which allows unrestricted movement across borders of member countries, nor a member of the EU. This means that travellers between the UK and EU must pass through full border identification, visa and customs controls for their departure and arrival countries, whilst travellers between stations within the Schengen area do not. The logistics of providing space and time for these controls whilst conforming to the requirements of free travel within the Schengen area makes implementing new services operationally complex.[213][214] The "Lille loophole" solution requires Eurostar customers travelling from Brussels to Lille to be segregated and guarded from other passengers for their journey. Similarly, when the Amsterdam to London route began, it was direct in only one way, with people needing to get a train to Brussels to go through the juxtaposed controls. The direct connection was subject to talks between the UK and Dutch governments, and juxtaposed controls buildings were constructed on platforms at Amsterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Centraal, opening on 26 October 2020.[75][215] These were both closed on 15 June 2024 until early 2025 due to major track works at Amsterdam Centraal. Eurostar stated direct Rotterdam to London services could not be maintained due to the much smaller customs facility at Rotterdam, leaving around 760 of the 902 seats on each train empty.[216]
The difficulties that Eurostar faces in expanding its services between the UK and EU would also be faced by any potential competitors to Eurostar. Trains must use platforms that are physically isolated,[171] a constraint which other intra-EU operators do not face. In addition, the British authorities are required to make passenger security and passport checks before they board the train,[217] which might deter domestic passengers. Compounding the difficulties in providing a similar service are the Channel Tunnel safety rules, the major ones being the "half-train rule" and the "length rule". The "half-train rule" stipulated that passenger trains had to be able to split in the case of emergency.[54] Class 373 trains were designed as two half-sets, which when coupled form a complete train, enabling them to be split easily in the event of an emergency while in the tunnel, with the unaffected set able to be driven out. The half-train rule was finally abolished in May 2010. However, the "length rule", which states that passenger trains must be at least 375 m (1,230 ft) long with a through corridor (to match the distance between the safety doors in the tunnel), was retained, preventing any potential operators from applying to run services with existing fleets – the majority of both TGV and ICE trains are only 200 m (660 ft) long.[218]
Competition
Following the liberalisation of international rail travel by European Union directives in 2010,[219][220] various operators have announced proposals for competition with Eurostar.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) intended to run services between London to Frankfurt and Amsterdam (two of the biggest air travel markets in Europe), with trains 'splitting & joining' in Brussels. In July 2010, DB announced that it intended to make a test run with a high-speed ICE-3MF train through the Channel Tunnel in October 2010 in preparation for possible future operations.[221] The trial ran on 19 October 2010 with a Class 406 ICE train specially liveried with a British "Union flag" decal. The train was then put on display for the press at London St Pancras International. However, this was not the class of train planned for the proposed service, instead proposing to use Class 407 ICE units, specially adapted for stronger Channel Tunnel safety standards.
DB scrapped the plan, mainly due to advance passport check requirements. DB had hoped that immigration checks could be done on board, but British authorities required immigration and security checks to be done at Lille-Europe station, taking at least 30 minutes.[105]
In 2021, Renfe, the national operator of Spain announced it was proposing competing London to Paris services.[222] In 2022, Getlink, the owner of the Channel Tunnel had reportedly considered purchasing trains suitable for competing services, leasing them to rival operations,[223] while in 2023, Mobico Group, the owner of National Express has also been reported to be considering cross-Channel services named 'Evoyln'.[224][225]
Long term possibilities
Stratford International station
Eurostar trains do not currently call at Stratford International, which was intended to be a London stop for the regional Eurostars when the station was constructed.[226] This was to be reviewed following the 2012 Olympics.[227] However, in 2013, Eurostar claimed that its 'business would be hit' by stopping trains there.[228]
Regional Eurostar
Although the original plan for Regional Eurostar services to destinations north of London was abandoned,[25] the significantly improved journey times available since the opening of High Speed 1 — which is physically connected to both the East Coast Main Line and the North London Line (for the West Coast Main Line) at London St Pancras International – and the increased maximum speeds on the West Coast Main Line since the 2000s may make potential Regional Eurostar services more commercially viable. This would be even more likely if proposals are adopted for a new high-speed line from London to the north of Britain.[229] Simon Montague, Eurostar's Director of Communications, commented that: "...International services to the regions are only likely once High Speed 2 is built."[230] However, as of 2014 the current plans for High Speed 2 do not allow for a direct rail link between that new line and High Speed 1, meaning passengers would still be required to change at London Euston and take some form of transportation to London St Pancras.[231]
Key pieces of infrastructure still belong to LCR via its subsidiary London & Continental Stations and Property, such as the Manchester International Depot, and Eurostar (UK) still owns several track access rights and the rights to paths on both the East Coast Main Line and the West Coast Main Line.[232][233] While no announcement has been made of plans to start Regional Eurostar services, it remains a possibility for the future. In the meantime, the closest equivalent to Regional Eurostar services are same-station connections with East Midlands Railway and Thameslink, changing at London St Pancras. The construction of a new concourse at the adjacent London King's Cross improved interchange with London St Pancras and provided London North Eastern Railway, Great Northern, Hull Trains and Grand Central services with easier connections to Eurostar.
LGV Picardie
LGV Picardie is a proposed high-speed line between Paris and Calais via Amiens. By cutting off the corner of the LGV Nord at Lille, it would enable Eurostar trains to save 20 minutes on the journey between Paris and Calais, bringing the London–Paris journey time under 2 hours. In 2008 the French Government announced its future investment plans for new LGVs to be built up to 2020; LGV Picardie was not included but was listed as planned in the longer term.[234]
Notes
- ^ Eurostar uses the airlines' definition of 'on-time': within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival time. The measure used for long-distance services in the UK rail industry is within ten minutes.
References
- ^ a b "COMING SOON: THALYS TO REBRAND AS EUROSTAR". SNCF. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ Noulton, John (February 2001). "The Channel Tunnel" (PDF). Japan Railway & Transport Review (26): 38–45. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ a b "On this day: 6 May 1994: President and Queen open Chunnel (with video clip)". BBC News. 6 May 1994. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
- ^ a b "Our history". Eurotunnel. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Our history". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 29 October 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
- ^ Wolmar, Christian (21 October 1994). "Channel train opens with a breakdown". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ a b c "Official Waterloo 'Goodbye' video, useful statistics and numbers shown". 20 December 2007. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2010 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Waterloo International: 1994–2007". The Guardian. London. 13 November 2007. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2007.
- ^ "Rail Chronology: Eurostar services". railchronology.free-online.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Takagi, Ryo (March 2005). "High-speed Railways:The last ten years" (PDF). Japan Railway & Transport Review (40): 4–7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar celebrates 10 years at Ashford International" (Press release). Eurostar. 9 January 2006. Archived from the original on 22 May 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
- ^ a b "Eurostar at 20: how has the service grown?". The Guardian. 14 November 2014. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ Carmichael, Sri; Low, Valentine (7 November 2007). "The royal pride of reborn St Pancras". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 24 May 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ Sweney, Mark (14 July 2007). "Eurostar launches St Pancras ads". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
- ^ a b Higham, Nick (6 November 2007). "The transformation of St Pancras". BBC News. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
- ^ "Eurostar to launch direct Amsterdam to London route in October". The Guardian. 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ Gilbert, Jane (1 December 2006). "'Chunnel' workers link France and Britain". The Daily Post. Rotorua, New Zealand: APN New Zealand.
- ^ Minus, Jodie (26 January 2007). "Eurostar an underground force". The Australian. Sydney. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar sets new Guinness World Record with cast and filmmakers of Columbia Pictures' The Da Vinci Code" (Press release). Eurostar. 17 June 2006. Archived from the original on 22 August 2017. Retrieved 27 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar breaks UK high speed record" (Press release). Eurostar. 30 July 2003. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 12 April 2007.
- ^ "Eurostar sets Paris-London record". BBC News. 4 September 2007. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
- ^ Williams, Michael (21 September 2007). "Eurostar puts Brussels within the 'two-hour club' after record rail journey". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 19 June 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ "Review of regional Eurostar services: summary report". Department for Transport. n.d. Archived from the original on 14 December 2010.
- ^ "Eurostar extension in doubt". BBC News. 28 April 1999. Archived from the original on 25 September 2003. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
- ^ a b Knowles, Richard; Farrington, John (December 1998). "Why Has the Market Not Been Created for Channel Tunnel Regional Passenger Rail Services?". Area. 30 (4). Royal Geographical Society: 359–366. Bibcode:1998Area...30..359K. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4762.1998.tb00080.x. JSTOR 20003928.
- ^ "High-speed GNER trains scrapped". BBC News. 16 January 2002. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ "White Rose to run to Leeds with extra trains". Rail Magazine. No. 428. 6 February 2002. p. 16.
- ^ a b "Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), United Kingdom". Railway-technology-com. n.d. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ "SNCF prepares to use Eurostar sets". Today's Railways UK. No. 64. April 2007. p. 68.
- ^ Guerra, Michael (December 2003). "Second chance for Eurostar sleepers" (PDF). Railwatch. No. 93. RailFuture. pp. 10–11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
- ^ Middleton, William D. (August 2003). "Via Rail's renaissance: "Renaissance" is the name Via Rail Canada has given its new fleet of European-built passenger cars, but it applies equally well to the entire operation". Railway Age. New York. Retrieved 19 June 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Hickling, Michael (1 November 2007). "Fast track to Europe – old track to Yorkshire". Yorkshire Post. Leeds. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ "Green Speed: A project to combine Eurostar and Thalys has been presented to the boards of their shareholders to meet the demand for sustainable travel in Europe". Eurostar Media Centre (Press release). 27 September 2019. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Briginshaw, David (27 September 2019). "Eurostar-Thalys merger proposal revealed". International Railway Journal. Falmouth: Simmons-Boardman Publishing. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Posaner, Joshua (27 September 2019). "Eurostar, Thalys merger floated to create high-speed rail giant". Politico. Brussels: Axel Springer SE. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ Wright, Robert (5 July 2023). "Eurostar in recovery: is there light at the end of the tunnel?". Financial Times. London: Nikkei, Inc. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ McWhriter, Alex (16 September 2020). "Eurostar and Thalys to merge in 2021". Business Traveller. London. Archived from the original on 4 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
- ^ "Eurostar brand to remain after Thalys merger". Railway Gazette International. London: DVV Media Group. 5 October 2021. Archived from the original on 4 October 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
- ^ "Eurostar and Thalys have become one" (Press release). London: Eurostar International. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Eurostar confirms plans for senior management changes". Breaking Travel News. 20 August 2009. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ "UK government sells Eurostar stake for £757.1m". BBC News. 4 March 2015. Archived from the original on 16 February 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
Patina Rail LLP will acquire the UK Treasury's entire share … consortium is made up of two companies: Canadian-based Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and the UK's Hermes Infrastructure … will own 30% and 10% of Eurostar respectively
- ^ "Behind the scenes". Brussels: Eurostar Group. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "Hermes secures Eurostar ownership for pension funds after UK sell-off". Realestate.jpe.com. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Rizzo, Cailey (19 January 2021). "Eurostar Rail Service Facing Financial Woes Due to COVID-19". Travel + Leisure. London: Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Eurostar finances near collapse as Covid cuts cross-channel train traffic". Paris: Radio France Internationale. Agence France-Presse. 19 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Jasper, Christopher (17 January 2021). "Eurostar Survival Concern Grows as U.K. Firms Lobby for Rescue". London. Bloomberg News. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ Wood, Zoe (17 January 2021). "Eurostar warns of 'risk to survival' without government help". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "France says Eurostar will get French and UK aid to ensure its future". The Guardian. 21 January 2021. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
- ^ a b c Wright, Robert (5 July 2023). "Eurostar in recovery: is there light at the end of the tunnel?". Financial Times. London: Nikkei, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ "Eurostar: Petition for return of Kent services backed by 30,000". BBC News. 5 September 2023. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
- ^ (in French)"Bilan LOTI de la LGV Nord Rapport" (PDF). Réseau Ferré de France. May 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ O'Connell, Dominic (13 March 2008). "Fees for high-speed tunnel link derail Eurostar's gravy train". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Eurostar article". railfaneurope.net. 27 May 2001. Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Eurotunnel Network Statement 2008" (PDF). Eurotunnel. 18 March 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ Kirkland, C.J. (2002). "The fire in the Channel Tunnel" (PDF). Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology. 17 (2): 129–132. doi:10.1016/S0886-7798(02)00014-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2010.
- ^ a b "Tunnel fire eats into Eurostar's passenger numbers". Kent Online. Maidstone. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
- ^ "Infrabel celebrates 10 years of the High Speed Line in Belgium" (Press release). Brussels: Infrabel. 14 December 2007. Archived from the original (DOC) on 3 March 2016.
- ^ "Detailed map layout of Belgian railway transportation network" (PDF). Infrabel. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- ^ "New £7.5 million railway viaduct at Brussels Midi station further enhances Eurostar reliability on the London–Brussels route" (Press release). Eurostar. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
- ^ "High Speed 1, United Kingdom". railway-technology.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ "The need for a Channel Tunnel Rail Link". Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ "With the new Eurostar high speed rail link, Alstom participates in the European rail network" (Press release). Paris: Alstom. 7 November 2007. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ Rudd, Matt (28 October 2007). "Eurostar to Brussels". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar arrives in Paris on time". BBC News. 14 November 2007. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2007.
- ^ "NS Hispeed launches HSL-Zuid services". Railway Gazette International. 7 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
- ^ "Eurostar service from 16 December 2019 to 16 May 2020" (PDF). Eurostar. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ "Destinations". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar Snow Train". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 10 December 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ "Eurostar winter ski tickets". thisfrenchlife.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ "Travelski Express - Discover the French Alps". Travelski UK. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Direct Eurostar from London to Amsterdam - Starts 4 April 2018 - Timetable, fares, tickets". seat61.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
- ^ "Transport Secretary hails new horizons for rail travel across Europe". Gov.uk (Press release). Department for Transport. 4 February 2020. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "Eurostar transforms link between London and Amsterdam with services now direct both to and from the Netherlands" (Press release). Eurostar. 4 February 2020. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ Hampson, Laura (30 April 2020). "Amsterdam to London Eurostar launch delayed due to coronavirus pandemic". Evening Standard. London. Archived from the original on 3 May 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Eurostar to launch £40 Amsterdam to London trains". BBC News. 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ Millward, David (3 November 2007). "Eurostar will cross London — in 15 hours". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
- ^ Dyckhoff, Tom (24 July 2007). "St Pancras regains the Gothic glamour". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 6 July 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
- ^ Webster, Ben (14 November 2007). "Five Waterloo platforms left in limbo by Eurostar pullout". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 5 August 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
- ^ a b Trend, Nick (29 October 2004). "The savvy traveller: Training makes a difference". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 4 May 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ Frary, Mark (12 September 2008). "Scramble for seats as Eurostar remains suspended". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ Martin, Andrew (18 November 2007). "St Pancras is a start, but it takes more to stop us flying". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ Rodgers, Paul (17 May 1995). "6.57 office to Paris". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ Calder, Simon (20 October 2007). "The cost of the Eurostar train in Spain falls way below the plane". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 26 November 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar available alongside airlines on the GDS systems" (Press release). Eurostar. 5 July 2006. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
- ^ "Eurostar – Classes of Travel – Business Premier". Rail Europe. Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar means Business". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 12 March 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ "Private train carriages 'become more popular'". laterooms.com. 12 June 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
- ^ "Through fares to the continent with Eurostar". National Rail. Archived from the original on 25 May 2009. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- ^ Fender, Keith (December 2011). "Eurostar changes Belgian tickets and connections". Modern Railways. No. 759. p. 82.
- ^ a b "Eurostar unveils new rail alliance with European high-speed train operators, Thalys and Deutsche Bahn's ICE" (Press release). Eurostar. 5 April 2005. Archived from the original on 10 November 2006.
- ^ "Eurostar/Thalys partnership deal". International Railway Journal. 1 December 2005. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- ^ "Through-fares from 68 UK towns and cities to continental Europe now available on eurostar.com" (Press release). Eurostar. 18 December 2007. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
- ^ "Eurostar Connecting to Switzerland". holidayhypermarket.co.uk. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
- ^ Mycroft, Dave (29 May 2009). "New Eurostar Link Up Opens Easier, Cheaper Travel". outdoorsmagic.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2009. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
- ^ "Take the ski train to the Swiss Alps". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ Calder, Simon (7 May 2019). "Eurostar ends agreement allowing passengers to travel from London to Germany, Austria and Switzerland". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Q&A: Schengen Agreement". BBC News. 15 December 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ "The Channel Tunnel (Security) Order 1994 (especially point 13)". Legislation.gov.uk. 20 March 2012. Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ "Checking in". eurostar.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ Cox, Simon (8 December 2011). "UK border staff in arrest threat over 'Lille loophole'". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ "New Eurostar treaties open up direct travel from Amsterdam to London". GOV.UK (Press release). HM Government. 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ (in French) Document législatif du Sénat belge n°1-396/1, Déclarations du Gouvernement belge Archived 13 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Belgian Senate. 23 July 1996
- ^ Ford, Richard (30 June 2009). "New British £750 million electronic border control plan 'breaks EU law'". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ Williams, Chris (30 June 2009). "Eurostar tunnels through UK border ring of steel". The Register. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- ^ a b Dowd, Vincent (30 May 2015). "Direct train to Europe". BBC News. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
- ^ Landesman, Peter (14 April 2002). "The Light at The End of the Chunnel". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ "Police find Eurostar stowaways". BBC News. 3 August 2001. Archived from the original on 2 October 2002. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ "Safety and security: Border controls". Eurotunnel. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar boosts passenger security at Ashford International" (Press release). Eurostar. 6 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 October 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ "Rail travel you can rely on". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 29 July 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- ^ "The Company File: Eurostar trains beat planes". BBC News. 6 July 1999. Archived from the original on 18 April 2003. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar achieves best ever punctuality performance" (Press release). Eurostar. 2 October 2006. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "High Speed 1 delivers a record year for Eurostar" (Press release). Eurostar. 9 January 2008. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
- ^ Desiderio, Matthieu (16 April 2008). "Eurotunnel and Eurostar 2008 1Q results: positive!". Transport Expertise. Paris. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar Booms Thanks to Airport Security". Air, Business and Travel News. London. 8 August 2006. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ "10 Good Reasons to Travel Eurostar". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar achieves record market share" (Press release). Eurostar. 14 September 2004. Archived from the original on 8 August 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
- ^ Wright, Robert (10 January 2008). "Eurostar passenger numbers surge". Financial Times. London. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
- ^ a b "Select Committee on Public Accounts Thirty-Eighth Report". House of Commons. 4 May 2006. Archived from the original on 16 October 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2007.
- ^ Clark, Nick (15 April 2008). "Eurostar credits move to St Pancras for boosting ticket revenues by 25 per cent". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ Lane, Michael (16 April 2009). "Eurostar suffers 5.8% fall in sales". Travel Trade Gazette. London. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
- ^ Clark, Nicola (16 April 2009). "Eurostar hit by recession". Marketing Magazine. London. Archived from the original on 19 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
- ^ "EU approves British state aid for high-speed Eurostar line". EU Business. Richmond, Surrey. Agence France-Presse. 13 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
- ^ Sturcke, James (12 February 2010). "Eurostar 'had no plan' to deal with train breakdown delays". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Delivering a Sustainable Railway — White Paper. Part 8: International". London: Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 13 May 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
- ^ "Channel Tunnel Traffic Forecasting". Transport Issues. Nottingham University. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar generates ten times less CO2 than flying the same routes". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 26 August 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar plans 'greener' trains". BBC News. 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ Lane, Michael (28 April 2009). "Eurostar reports 31% fall in CO2 emissions". Travel Trade Gazette. London. Retrieved 29 April 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Eurostar travel hits record level". BBC News. 13 January 2009. Archived from the original on 21 January 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar sales up in 2009 despite travel chaos". BBC News. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 21 January 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
- ^ "Eurostar sales rise on recovery in business travel". BBC News. 14 January 2011. Archived from the original on 15 January 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
- ^ "Eurostar sales boosted by visitors from outside EU". BBC News. 8 March 2012. Archived from the original on 6 May 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- ^ "'Strong' 2012 for Eurostar". Rail.co. 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ^ "Eurostar passenger figures topped 10 million in 2013". BBC News. 5 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
- ^ "Eurostar growth continues in 2014". Railwaygazette.com. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- ^ "Eurostar passenger numbers steady but profit down". Railwaygazette.com. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ^ "25 Eurostar facts". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
- ^ "Eurostar sets new ridership record". Railway Gazette International. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
- ^ "Eurostar — A seamless journey to the continent" (PDF). Japan Railway & Transport Review. 40: 29–33. March 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
- ^ Davidson, Max (14 November 2007). "Eurostar: welcome to the new age of trains". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 2 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar Company Awards page". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ Charles, Paul (1 June 2005). "Rebuilding Eurostar's brand and reputation". Strategic Communication Management. Chicago & London. ISSN 1363-9064. Archived from the original on 25 February 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Winners of 2007". Network Rail. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ a b c Kanter, James (5 May 2009). "French Nuclear Power Cleans Up Eurostar -- Green Inc. blog". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 May 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2009.
- ^ Grant, John (2008). The green marketing manifesto. Chichester, Sussex: John Wiley. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-470-72324-1.
- ^ "Travel Awards 2008 winners". The Guardian. London. 12 October 2008. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
- ^ Montague, Simon (4 December 2010). "Climate Change and Business: Eurostar's Environmental Action Plan and its Communication - Lessons Learnt and Guidelines". Madrid: Elcano Royal Institute. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Eurostar Case Study". Allen & York. 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Travel Awards 2009 Winners". The Guardian. London. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ Cusing, Karl (3 September 2009). "Globe Travel Awards:2010 The categories". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ Francis, Justin (2011). "2011 Responsible Tourism Award Winners". Responsible Travel. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "TNT Golden Backpack Awards - the winner revealed". TNT Magazine. 29 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Europe's Leading Passenger Rail Operator 2015". World Travel Awards. 2015. Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "National Rail Awards 2017: Siemens Eurostar e320 wins Train of the Year award". Rail. Peterborough. 22 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ Camilli, Sascha (2 December 2019). "Malmaison, Eurostar, Virgin Trains Among Winners of PETA's First-Ever Travel Awards" (Press release). London: PETA UK. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ "Mobile Industry Awards 2020: Eurostar Global Electronics is Distributor of the Year". Tech Radar Pro. 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ a b McCarthy, Michael (15 November 2007). "A green light for Eurostar: The train that takes the eco-strain". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Eurostar Trains To Go Carbon Neutral". ET Energy World. Agence France-Presse. 17 April 2007. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b c "Eurostar announces new environmental commitments for 25th anniversary". Global Railway Review. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b Brandler, Hannah (26 November 2019). "Eurostar announces eco-friendly initiatives". Business Traveller. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ a b Smith, Andrea (18 November 2019). "How Eurostar plans to become more eco-friendly". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
- ^ Tims, Anna (17 August 2023). "Eurostar derailed my efforts to book a bike on to one of its trains". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
- ^ a b "A high-speed revolution". The Economist. London. 5 July 2007. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
- ^ "UK Government Nationalizes London & Continental Railways". The Wall Street Journal. New York. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2009.
- ^ "Stopping ticket sales between Belgium and the Netherlands". Eurostar4Agents. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
- ^ "Eurostar seating plan" (PDF). RailEurope.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 October 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2007.
- ^ Wilckens, Martin; Ellewanger, Gunther (October 1994). "High speed for Europe" (PDF). Japan Railway & Transport Review. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2009. Retrieved 1 May 2009.
- ^ "French Railway Industry: The paths of excellence" (PDF). DGE/UBIFRANCE. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ Nash, Emily (5 September 2007). "Eurostar sets new Paris-London record". The Mirror. London. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
- ^ a b Wolmar, Christian (23 November 2007). "Who is going to use the new high speed line?". Rail. No. 579. Peterborough. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ Millward, David (27 November 2008). "Eurostar services could be disrupted by strike in run up to Christmas". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ "Multi-million facelift for Eurostar". BBC News. 27 May 2003. Archived from the original on 2 July 2004. Retrieved 27 December 2007.
- ^ "Eurostar invites bidders to undertake major interior refurbishment of fleet" (PDF). Rail Management. Dunstable, Beds. 8 September 2008. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 June 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar to tender for refurbishment". RailNews. London. 8 September 2008. Archived from the original on 3 September 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ "Eurostar refurbishment design contract awarded". Railway Gazette International. London. 8 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- ^ "The Yard creates 'drastically different' Eurostar buffet cars". Design Week. London. 14 May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar unveils new first class layout". Opodo Travel News. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ Smithers, Rebecca (9 April 2009). "Eurostar interiors to get makeover by Italian luxury car designer". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 16 August 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
- ^ "Eurostar considering larger fleet?". Railway Gazette International. London. 6 April 2009. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
- ^ "2017 start date for Great Western ERTMS upgrade". The National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport workers (RMT). 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 26 December 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- ^ a b "320 km/h train order as Eurostar sets sights on expansion". Railway Gazette International. London. 7 October 2010. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
- ^ "Eurostar unveils £700m train deal". BBC News. 7 October 2010. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Eurostar picks Velaro to expand fleet". Railway Gazette International. London. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- ^ "Carbon efficient Eurostar fleet going green". Silicon Republic. Dublin. 21 October 2010. Archived from the original on 20 December 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ "Siemens weathering economic storm as work begins on new Eurostar". International Railway Journal. London. 31 October 2011. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ "Siemens Mobility References". Siemens. 2011. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ Wright, Robert (1 October 2010). "Row breaks out over Eurostar train order". Financial Times. London. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
- ^ Wright, Robert (19 October 2010). "Alstom heads for court over Eurostar trains". Financial Times. London. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022.
- ^ "Alstom fails to block Eurostar contract". International Railway Journal. London. 30 October 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
- ^ "Alstom lodges Eurostar complaint in Brussels". Financial Times. London. 4 November 2010. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ Wendlandt, Astrid (11 November 2010). "Alstom says Eurostar tender hearing in Oct 2011". Reuters. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
- ^ Milmo, Dan (15 July 2011). "Siemens keeps €600m Eurostar order after Alstom legal challenge fails". The Guardian. London. p. 29. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ Topham, Gwyn (3 April 2012). "Alstom drops Eurostar legal action after SNCF orders more trains". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
- ^ UK, DVV Media. "Eurostar orders seven more e320s". Railwaygazette.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- ^ Jasper, Christopher (16 May 2024). "Eurostar to order 50 new trains in race to expand". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
- ^ "Eurostar Depot for Stratford". railwaypeople.com. 10 December 2004. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar loans a class 73 locomotive for South Wales regeneration initiative" (Press release). Eurostar. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
- ^ "Eurostar teams up with Railschool in East London to create training opportunities for young people" (Press release). Eurostar. 26 June 2007. Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
- ^ "Development for Europorte 2: Eurotunnel buys five Class 92 locomotives" (Press release). Eurotunnel. 15 February 2007. Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 21 April 2009.
- ^ Sturgess, Trevor (22 December 2009). "Eurostar faces up to bad press after PR disaster". Kent Messenger. Maidstone. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar train derails in France". BBC News. 5 June 2000. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ "TGVweb TGV Accidents article". trainweb.org. Archived from the original on 18 February 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ Gammell, Caroline (21 December 2009). "Eurostar launches independent review". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
- ^ "Eurostar: "améliorer l'info dans le tunnel"". Le Figaro (in French). Paris. 21 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
- ^ Gabbatt, Adam; agencies (21 December 2009). "Eurostar services suspended for third day as bad weather hits flights". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
- ^ "Eurostar handling of snow delays criticised". BBC News. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ^ "Eurostar Independent Review". 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ Odell, Mark (13 May 2012). "Eurostar eyes expansion across Europe" (paywall). Financial Times. London. Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
- ^ "Eurostar to add new destinations". connexionfrance.com. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2012.
- ^ Topham, Gwyn (16 March 2016). "Wine line: Eurostar mulls direct trains to Bordeaux from London". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ Silvester, Katie (February 2008). "Interview with Richard Brown, Chief Executive of Eurostar" (PDF). Rail Professional. Cambridge. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
- ^ Topham, Gwyn (24 January 2023). "Eurostar trains forced to run with empty seats due to Brexit passport rules". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ Service, Flanders News (6 February 2024). "Possible restrictions on Eurostar services due to future post-Brexit passport controls". belganewsagency.eu. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
- ^ "Eurostar transforms link between London and Amsterdam with services now direct both to and from the Netherlands". Eurostar. 4 February 2020. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
- ^ "Amsterdam to London Eurostar services to be suspended for six months". Railvolution. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
- ^ "Passports & Visas". Eurostar. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- ^ IGC Unified Safety Rules Consultation 2010 Archived 5 August 2020 at the Wayback Machine – Intergovernmental Commission
- ^ "Liberalization of railway transport: European directives on railway transport and Access to infrastructure" (PDF). Enrico Mordiglia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ "EU agrees to liberalise rail by 2010". EurActiv.com. Brussels. 29 June 2007. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ "Deutsche Bahn to run ICE3 to Britain this year". Railway Gazette International. London. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
- ^ "Spain's state-owned train operator Renfe plans to launch high-speed London to Paris service". Evening Standard. London. 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Eurostar could face rival high speed rail service as Getlink in talks with Spanish rail firm Renfe". Kent Online. 27 March 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Channel Tunnel hopefuls mount another challenge to Eurostar". Rail Tech. 2 August 2023. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "How Getlink wants to clear a hurdle for new operators to run trains through the Channel Tunnel". Rail Tech. 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ Webster, Ben (21 April 2006). "Ghost train station that cost £210m". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
- ^ "Eurostar 'will not stop' at Stratford International". BBC News. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
- ^ "Boris Johnson urges Eurostar to start using Olympic Park station". Evening Standard. 29 July 2013. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2016.
- ^ "Eurostar welcomes greengauge 21's call for high speed 2" (Press release). Eurostar. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
- ^ Montague, Simon (8 May 2009). "Rail investments that will last for 200 years" (Letter to the Editor). Yorkshire Post. Leeds. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ "HS2: Plans revived to connect London terminus of High Speed Two with Channel Tunnel Rail Link". The Independent. London. 11 July 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ "Train Access Rights necessary to operate additional passenger services on the East Coast Main Line" (PDF). Office of the Rail Regulator. 27 January 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ "Consultation on capacity study for East Coast Main Line" (PDF). Railways Archive. 19 December 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2009.
- ^ "Long-term TGV plans". Railway Gazette International. London. 2 June 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
Bibliography
- Brunhouse, Jay (1999). Traveling Europe's Trains. Pelican Publishing Company. ISBN 1-56554-854-X.
- Comfort, Nicholas (2007). The Channel Tunnel and its High Speed Links. Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-1-56554-854-1.
- Grant, John (2008). The green marketing manifesto. John Wiley. ISBN 978-0-470-72324-1.
- Griffiths, Jeanne (1995). London to Paris in Ten Minutes: The Eurostar Story. Images. ISBN 1-897817-47-9.
- Mitchell, Vic (1996). Ashford: From Steam to Eurostar. Middleton Press. ISBN 1-873793-67-7.
- Parliament: House of Commons Transport Committee (2008). Delivering a Sustainable Railway. The Stationery Office. ISBN 978-0-215-52222-1.
- Penny, Charles (1996). Channel Tunnel Transport System. Thomas Telford. ISBN 0-7277-2515-7.
- Pielow, Simon (1997). Eurostar. Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2451-0.
- Piggott, Reginald; Thompson, Matt (2012). Mile by Mile London to Paris: the entire railway journey by historic Golden Arrow and modern Eurostar mapped for the interested traveller. London: Aurum. ISBN 9781845137724.
- Roza, Greg (2004). The Incredible Story of Trains. Rosen Publishing. ISBN 0-8239-6712-3.
- Sievert, Terri (2002). The World's Fastest Trains. Capstone Press. ISBN 0-7368-1061-7.
- Whiteside, Thomas (1962). The Tunnel under the Channel. Rupert Hart-Davis. ISBN 0-684-83243-7.
- Wilson, Jeremy; Spick, Jerome (1994). Eurotunnel – The Illustrated Journey. HarperCollins. ISBN 0-00-255539-5.