Special Features - High-speed train travel

High-speed train travel
(04/09/07)

Faster, greener connections between Europe and Britain with the new Eurostar service from St Pancras International London. (Credit: britainonview)

Faster, greener connections between mainland Europe and Britain have been created with a new high-speed Eurostar train line.

September 4 marked the day of the first journey from Paris (France) to London's St Pancras International using the UK's new train line, High Speed 1.

All aboard from November

Even though most train passengers were journalists and officials, the public can soon sample the super-fast train service from 14 November.

Britain already has a Eurostar service providing links from London Waterloo to European cities, such as Paris and Brussels (Belgium), via the Channel Tunnel.

Although efficient, the service will move from Waterloo to St Pancras International offering an even shorter journey time which is more environmentally-friendly.

Extra freedom for business and leisure travellers

Passengers can expect to travel at speeds of 186 mph (300km/h) with new journey times cut by 20 minutes - from London to Paris in 2hrs 15 mins and London to Brussels in 1hr 51 mins.

The High Speed 1 timetable will also provide extra freedom for business and leisure travellers who can get from London to Paris and Brussels before 9am and take advantage of the late departures times.

Eco-friendly way to travel

Those concerned about their carbon footprints are already booking their tickets for the service as an alternative to travelling by plane.

Independent research shows that Eurostar generates 10 times less CO2 emissions than flying and with the company's "Tread Lightly" campaign - plans to reduce emissions by 25 per cent per passenger by 2012 - eco-friendly travellers are giving the new Euro-travel the thumbs up.

One of Britain's busiest stations

London's St Pancras, which will house the new Eurostar service, is one of Britain's busiest stations.

Along with Kings Cross station next-door, it offers national rail services from London to cities such as Newcastle in the North of England and Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland.

It also provides links to the London Underground, the oldest underground train system in the world which connects passengers to 275 stations dotted around the city and further afield.

Booking tickets online

To avoid extra-long queues at the ticket office, it is a good idea to book tickets for Eurostar, UK national trains and the underground online.

VisitBritain offers useful tips and advice on buying tickets online and provides a route planner to help you map out your journey.

For more information about Eurostar and train travel in the UK, see the links below.