Chunnel Train from London to Paris
Take the High Speed Eurostar Train in Comfort
Travel under the English Channel between these two European cities
Getting from London to Paris has never been easier. The high speed Eurostar train takes visitors between the two European cities in just 2 hours and 35 minutes. Going underneath the Chunnel, the tunnel below the English Channel, is a comfortable, economical and ecological way to travel.
Less Time and More Space
The biggest plus is the reduced waiting time compared to flying. Instead of waiting for three hours in line at an airport outside of the city center, Waterloo Station in London and the Gare du Nord in Paris are the on and off points for the Eurostar train.
Inside, the seats are spacious, comfortable and only two spaces deep. You can watch the beautiful countryside of both France and England as the train speeds past at 300 kilometers per hour.
A Full Belly
Food services are outstanding compared to an airline, with options of Italian pasta, salads, yoghurt, sandwiches, freshly baked croissants and snacks. You can get up and walk around more freely, not feeling as cramped and claustrophobic as when you’re in a plane.
Environmentally Conscious
The ecological footprint is also so much less. Feel good about travelling by train with this fact (courtesy of Eurostar): flying from London Heathrow to Paris Charles de Gaulle generates 122 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions, while the train ride only produces 11.
An Even Shorter Distance
Launching in a few months is the newest service from the company, making the trip distance and time even shorter. The train will take off and arrive from London’s St. Pancras station, making the trip 15 minutes faster. If you’re coming from closer to that station, the travel time can be reduced significantly, as the tube ride will also be less.
The Class System
If travelling in first class is a must, there are two options on the train: other than the regular “Standard Class,” there is “Leisure Select” and “Business Premier.” The Leisure tickets gain you wider seats, a choice of newspapers and magazines, complimentary champagne and a three-course meal. If that isn’t enough, the Business tickets grant passengers all of the above bonuses, as well as wine and access to a wireless network.
This train has been a long time coming. It was first the seed of a plan in 1802, while Napoleon was in power. Not until 1994 did the project came to fruition. Becoming one of Europe’s largest ever infrastructure projects, the $15 billion price tag has already been put to good use. In the year 2005 alone, 8.2 million people went through the Chunnel, which needed 13,000 workers to finish. Today, it has many trips per day and is constantly full during the peak tourist seasons.
