Eurostar beste keuze naar Londen?

[groentje]

In principe wel. En zeker voor de laatste trein ook aan te raden, er zijn soms wachtrijen.
Al zijn ze qua controles iets 'relaxter', heb ik de indruk.

[Patrick]

In principe wel. En zeker voor de laatste trein ook aan te raden, er zijn soms wachtrijen.
Al zijn ze qua controles iets 'relaxter', heb ik de indruk.

Business-tickets (+ Eurostar Frequent Traveller Carte blanche): inchecktijd van 10 minuten.

[groentje]

Maar ook dat geldt in België, dacht ik. Kortom, dezelfde voorwaarden als in België, 30 minuten voor het 'gewone' volk, of al wie geen Business Class reist/wil reizen, 10 minuten voor die laatsten.

[celtjan]

Vanaf 29 Juni krijgen de Eurostars op de HSL1 van Ashford via Ebsfleet naar Londen het gezelschap van de JAVALIN HST's (Hitachi), in dienst voor South Eastern Trains.

En vanaf de winterdienstregeling komen ze in dienst op gans het traject van de HSL1, vertrekkende vanuit Margate, Ramsgate, Dover.
Deze treinstellen rijden eerst via een 3è rail tot ze te Folkstone; Ashford of Ebsfleet de HSL1 opsnellen.

Zie: http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk

Ik heb in october een Britrailpass voor twee weken en nog een paar dagen in te plannen...zou ik die javalin kunnen proberen ??

& JAVALIN's hebben succes! Nu al worden treinsamenstellingen vergroot!
Zie webstek van Southeastern

[merciacharters]

Ik heb in october een Britrailpass voor twee weken en nog een paar dagen in te plannen...zou ik die javalin kunnen proberen ??

Dat lijkt me wel. Gewone abonnementshouders kunnen hem ook gebruiken, met een toeslag. Geen idee of je met een Britrail een toeslag nodig hebt, maar dat kun je gewoon aan Southeastern vragen.

I've checked FRPP, the British rail retail information website, which is unfortunately password protected so I can't give you a direct link.

The details provided by Southeastern are rather sparse, but does say that rail staff travel is NOT allowed (which will include staff travel using FIP free or discounted tickets).
The BritRail pass is not covered in the retail information, and it's difficult to say whether a supplement will be charged or not.

For domestic tickets, a journey from the Southeastern area to stations beyond London which would normally be routed via Ashford will allow travel by "Any Permitted Route", and that would be valid for travel on the Javelin preview service without a supplement. A local journey Ashford - London would need the supplement, however.
Just to complicate matters, most 1st class tickets are valid without a supplement, but for some journeys the supplement will be charged to 1st class ticket holders!

The basic supplement prices are:

• London St Pancras : HS Upgrade Anytime Single (HUA) / HS Upgrade Anytime Return (HUB) / HS Upgrade Offpeak Return (HUC)
  Ebbsfleet : £3.10 / £6.20 / £3.20
  Ashford : £4.40 / £8.10 / not available

I think the worst case for a Britrail pass holder would be that they would have to pay the Anytime supplement, and that can be bought on the train.

Website links:
Fares - http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/in ... s/view/325
Times - http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/in ... s/view/324

I've just emailed Southeastern's customer services to ask about FIP and Britrail and (assuming they answer!) I'll post their reply here.

[groentje]

Many thanks for the effort.

[merciacharters]

I think the worst case for a Britrail pass holder would be that they would have to pay the Anytime supplement, and that can be bought on the train.

I was wrong.
Southeastern have replied, and although they have not answered my question about FIP, about BritRail they say...

I'm afraid that Britrail won't be valid and passengers will need to purchase a "walk up" fare.

So, it looks like the London St Pancras <-> Ebbsfleet Off-Peak Return at GBP12.50 is best value.

[sweek]

For domestic tickets, a journey from the Southeastern area to stations beyond London which would normally be routed via Ashford will allow travel by "Any Permitted Route", and that would be valid for travel on the Javelin preview service without a supplement. A local journey Ashford - London would need the supplement, however.

That's pretty interesting. So if instead of Ashford to St. Pancras I buy a ticket to, say, Kentish Town, would that be cheaper than buying the supplement?

[sweek]

Voor mij is het trouwens altijd de Eurostar nu aangezien ik 5 minuten van St. Pancras woon... toen ik in west-Londen woonde was Heathrow via BMI bijvoorbeeld sneller.

[merciacharters]

For domestic tickets, a journey from the Southeastern area to stations beyond London which would normally be routed via Ashford will allow travel by "Any Permitted Route", and that would be valid for travel on the Javelin preview service without a supplement. A local journey Ashford - London would need the supplement, however.

That's pretty interesting. So if instead of Ashford to St. Pancras I buy a ticket to, say, Kentish Town, would that be cheaper than buying the supplement?

Ashford - Kentish Town is an Any Permitted route. Fares are...

ASHFORD INTL 5004 - KENTISH TOWN 1553
(Derived from ASHFORD INTL 5004 - W HAMPSTEAD STNS 0265)
rte Any Permitted

SET
FDS S 33.90
FDR R 67.80
SDS S 22.60
SDR R 42.50
SVR 4A R 28.60
CDR C4 R 23.10

Whereas the fares for the preview service are
To London St Pancras from Ashford
Anytime Single (SDS) £26.60
Anytime Day Return (SDR) £48.70
(HS Upgrade Anytime Single (HUA) £4.40)
(HS Upgrade Anytime Return (HUB) £8.10)


So, yes, it would appear that it's quite a bit cheaper to do it that way!
(I've just double-checked and the Ashford - Kentish Town single really is only 40p more than the Ashford - London Terminals "normal" fare)

[dentheo]

(HS Upgrade Anytime Single (HUA) £4.40)
(HS Upgrade Anytime Return (HUB) £8.10)

Couldn't I use these together with my Britrailpass , I'll will get a longer trip than a return Ebbsfleet.....and cheaper .

[merciacharters]

(HS Upgrade Anytime Single (HUA) £4.40)
(HS Upgrade Anytime Return (HUB) £8.10)

Couldn't I use these together with my Britrailpass , I'll will get a longer trip than a return Ebbsfleet.....and cheaper .

They said no - see my earlier post.
If you have a Britrail pass you'll have to buy a full-price ticket. (Just as I have to, and I'm UK railway staff).

[sweek]

For domestic tickets, a journey from the Southeastern area to stations beyond London which would normally be routed via Ashford will allow travel by "Any Permitted Route", and that would be valid for travel on the Javelin preview service without a supplement. A local journey Ashford - London would need the supplement, however.

That's pretty interesting. So if instead of Ashford to St. Pancras I buy a ticket to, say, Kentish Town, would that be cheaper than buying the supplement?

Ashford - Kentish Town is an Any Permitted route. Fares are...

ASHFORD INTL 5004 - KENTISH TOWN 1553
(Derived from ASHFORD INTL 5004 - W HAMPSTEAD STNS 0265)
rte Any Permitted

SET
FDS S 33.90
FDR R 67.80
SDS S 22.60
SDR R 42.50
SVR 4A R 28.60
CDR C4 R 23.10

Whereas the fares for the preview service are
To London St Pancras from Ashford
Anytime Single (SDS) £26.60
Anytime Day Return (SDR) £48.70
(HS Upgrade Anytime Single (HUA) £4.40)
(HS Upgrade Anytime Return (HUB) £8.10)


So, yes, it would appear that it's quite a bit cheaper to do it that way!
(I've just double-checked and the Ashford - Kentish Town single really is only 40p more than the Ashford - London Terminals "normal" fare)

Thanks! Would you mind me posting this information on uk.transport.london? I think quite a few people might be interested
in a loophole like this!

Thanks you,

Lucas
London NW1

[Steven]

vandaag in de krant gezien dat VLM er mee stopt om naar londen te vliegen. De concurrentie van eurostar en de crisis zouden de doodsteek zijn.

[treinbruno]

alleen vanaf brussel toch? vanaf antwerpen bleven ze gewoon vliegen dacht ik