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St. Pancras, EuroStar, London to Paris |
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Written by MrFiveStar, Ron Crider
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 There is only one good way to get between London and Paris. It’s the EuroStar high speed train. Forget Ryan Air, or Easy Jet they will really get you with all the extras for baggage. Don’t even think about taking anything larger than a toothbrush or you will be paying overweigh fees that that resemble a car payment.
May 24, 2008 I traveled to Paris on the EuroStar high speed train from the new St. Pancras station in north London. What an excellent experience. An agent met me as I came through the station door. He showed me to the e-ticket Business Premier electronic check-in machine. I simply inserted the credit card I booked the ticket with and wala! Out came both the London to Paris and the Paris to London tickets. Next, security and immigrations, wala again! I was through in 5 minutes on my way to the Business Premier lounge.
Since 14 November 2007 all Eurostar trains have been routed via High Speed 1 from the newly redeveloped London terminus at St Pancras International. Originally Eurostar intended to retain some services at the former Waterloo International terminal, but this was later ruled out on cost grounds.
From 9 December 2007 Eurostar offers 17 weekday London–Paris services (19 on Fridays) including 7 non-stop, and 10 London–Brussels trains including 3 non-stop.[7] In addition to these three-capitals services, there is one round-trip London–Disneyland Paris and two seasonal services: from July to September there is a weekly London–Ashford–Avignon service, and in the winter months there are twice-weekly Snow Train services to Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Aime-la-Plagne and Moutiers in the French Alps for the ski season; one of these runs overnight and the other is a daytime round-trip. Click here for my photo album of St. Pancras, EuroStar train and Paris Gare du Nord. Photo Album
The trains are essentially modified TGV sets 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. Speed limits in the Channel Tunnel are dictated by air-resistance, energy (heat) dissipation and the need to fit in with other trains operating at slower speeds.
 The trains were designed with Channel Tunnel safety in mind, and consist of two independent "half-sets", each with its own power car. In the event of a serious fire on board while travelling through the Tunnel, the passengers would be transferred into the undamaged half of the train, which would then be detached from the damaged half and driven out of the tunnel to safety. If the undamaged part were the rear half of the train, this would be driven by the Chef du Train who is a fully authorised driver and occupies the rear driving cab while the train travels through the tunnel for this purpose.
In 2004–2005 the Three Capitals sets still in daily use for international services were refurbished with a new interior designed by Philippe Starck.[20] The old grey-yellow scheme in Standard class and grey-red of First/Premium First were replaced with a new grey-brown look in Standard and grey-burnt orange in First class. Power points were added to seats in First class and coaches 1 and 18 in Standard class.
Premium First class was renamed BusinessPremier. As 27 of the 31 Three Capitals sets are sufficient to operate the service, four are currently used by SNCF for domestic services; one of these regularly operates the Paris-Lille shuttle.
 This Business Premier EuroStar isn’t cheap for us Americans, about $425.00 each way. However you must consider the exchange rate is almost double, at least at the time I purchased the ticket. However, how would I be able to report on this experience if I didn’t spend all those pounds? Well, I can tell you the experience was well worth the expense.
 If your time is valuable, than the EuroStar is by far the right choice. Consider the time it would take you to get to Heathrow or even farther to Stansted, then the airport hassle with all the security. Then when you get to Paris you still have to get from the airport to the city center. EuroStar drops you off at the Nord station just 10 minutes from the center of Paris. The Taxi fare is about 15 euros or about $25.00 US.
 On the second floor there are complimentary double screen computers ready for you to surf the internet or check your email. Here I am standing by the circular staircase to the second floor. There is also elevator access. Here is an interesting note; I took many pictures in this lounge at St. Pancras, in fact this picture was taken by one of the EuroStar personnel, however in Paris at the Premier Business Lounge picture taking is forbidden. In Paris it is OK to take pictures of the trains and the station, just not in the Business Lounge. 
The Business Premier Lounge at St. Pancras is really well done. It’s a blend of the historic station and contemporary design’s with dark leather, chrome and glass. The lounge operates like the airline first class facilities. There are complimentary snacks, alcohol drinks as well as nice wine.
 There is a unique little glass cage with cubby lock doors to charge your cell phone or IPods. Just don’t forget to collect them when you board the train. The Business Premier Lounge at St. Pancras is really well done. It’s a blend of the historic station and contemporary design’s with dark leather, chrome and glass. The lounge operates like the airline first class facilities. There are complimentary snacks, alcohol drinks as well as nice wine. There is a unique little glass cage with cubby lock doors to charge your cell phone or IPods. Just don’t forget to collect them when you board the train.
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