Mar 17, 2015, 4:56 am
Last edit by: JDiver
FlyerTalk Forums Thread Wiki: this is a community-maintained wiki post containing the most important information from this thread. Signed in members with 90 days / 90 posts can edit this Wikipost; feel free to add important information here. Wiki contents may be printed by using the 
(lower right wiki corner).
(lower right wiki corner).
UK Rail and Eurostar FAQs
Jan 19, 2009, 8:34 am
#1
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
UK Rail and Eurostar FAQs
As there is some crossover between the UK/Ireland (and other destination) fora and this one, I thought I'd post a couple of links to existing railway FAQs from over there:
The UK & Ireland rail FAQ - read this first if you have any questions about rail travel in the UK & Ireland including:
The Eurostar FAQ - everything you'll need to know about travelling to Europe (ahem) sur le Euro-Etoile, courtesy of UK flyer.
Hope this is of some use to readers of this excellent new forum!
The UK & Ireland rail FAQ - read this first if you have any questions about rail travel in the UK & Ireland including:
- Q. How do I buy domestic UK train tickets?
- Q. How do I get cheap UK train tickets?
- Q. How do I buy train tickets from abroad?
- Q. Is First Class worth it?
- Q. How reliable are trains in the UK?
- Q. How do I find train times and updates for the UK?
- Q. What happens if my train is delayed?
- Q. What are the sleeper services like?
- UK Rail Glossary
The Eurostar FAQ - everything you'll need to know about travelling to Europe (ahem) sur le Euro-Etoile, courtesy of UK flyer.
Hope this is of some use to readers of this excellent new forum!
Jan 19, 2009, 9:57 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,204
Liverpool Street - I often collect tickets from the machines in the station. Although they're not technically FastTicket machines they do support ticket on departure and will accept an online/telesales booking reference.
Some other stations have the same type of machine but don't have ticket on departure enabled. This used to be the case with Waterloo but I'm not sure now.
Some other stations have the same type of machine but don't have ticket on departure enabled. This used to be the case with Waterloo but I'm not sure now.
Jan 19, 2009, 10:04 am
#3
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
Yes, they've rolled that out in a number of additional ticket machines up and down the country now - First Capital Connect, for example, allow you to collect tickets at most of their TVMs, even in small suburban stations.
A lot more stations allow pick-up from a ticket window now, too.
I've updated the FAQ - thanks for the input!
A lot more stations allow pick-up from a ticket window now, too.
I've updated the FAQ - thanks for the input!
Jul 7, 2012, 5:38 am
#4
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 2
It's well worth trying railbookers http://www.railbookers.com/ as they do really god packages, I've used them before and never been disappointed!
Oct 2, 2012, 10:05 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RBKC
Programs: AA EXP and Eurostar Carte Blanche
Posts: 3,849
Just used the Eurostar app on the iPhone for the first time today. Seemed pretty simple, though I didn't like that I had to resort to the website/phone to select seats, nor that the app says it cannot produce an electronic ticket less than 48 hours before departure. I wonder why not? Hopefully these features will be added or implemented soon.
Edit: Whoops -- meant to post that in the Eurostar FAQ thread. Mods, please feel free to move.
Edit: Whoops -- meant to post that in the Eurostar FAQ thread. Mods, please feel free to move.
Aug 26, 2014, 4:29 am
#6
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,152
For those thinking of travelling on the Eurostar between late September and early December, there's a sale due to start in 2 days time. Eurostar Frequent Travellers have just been sent a link to the pre-sale, which seems to show a decent amount of availability, everyone else should get access on Thursday!
Oct 7, 2015, 4:41 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,449
Just took Eurostar and was not impressed at all, went from Paris to London, might be when the new trains come on line, but the current trains are showing thier age as well as the seats.
Oct 18, 2015, 8:41 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: AA EXP >3 Million miles,HH Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 2,887
Is it necessary to buy tickets in advance? We are going from London to Brussels on November 16.,3 of us planning to go regular class and trying to decide when we need to purchase? I'm thinking Monday morning cou l d be a busy time?
Oct 18, 2015, 11:08 pm
#9
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
Trains are relatively rarely sold out (only on particularly busy days), but the pricing is airline style, so you'll pay significantly more, the later you leave it.
Oct 19, 2015, 1:37 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,589
It sounds more complex than it is. You are not breaking any rules by ending your journey in Brussels, and this (currently) would be €59 per person (£44/$67), cheaper than on the Eurostar website for any train other than the 06:13 departure from London on November 16th.
Jul 31, 2016, 5:33 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Australia
Programs: QF Silver
Posts: 45
Does Eurostar do free upgrades? I booked a standard class ticket for 1 September and when I went to print my ticket I noticed I was in carriage 3 with sets of single facing seats (see attached - I can't work out how to embed the image).
Yes, my booking is definitely for a standard class not standard premier.
Any idea what's going on? Should I just be happy and take it, or will my seat get changed to something horrid when I get there? Or is the seat map wrong?
Thanks!
Yes, my booking is definitely for a standard class not standard premier.
Any idea what's going on? Should I just be happy and take it, or will my seat get changed to something horrid when I get there? Or is the seat map wrong?
Thanks!
Jul 31, 2016, 8:25 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC GGL, HHonors Diamond, IHG Uninspired, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, UK AMEX Plat
Posts: 2,152
On the old trains, Standard Premier and Business Premier is in the middle. On the new trains, they're at the ends. On the old trains, the buffets are in coaches 6 and 13. On the new ones, it's the middle pair.
That seat map looks like a new-train seatmap. It could be that they're in the process of swapping trains, or it could be that the website is confused... I'd suggest checking back nearer to travel, in case you have been re-seated somewhere less good following a train swap!
That seat map looks like a new-train seatmap. It could be that they're in the process of swapping trains, or it could be that the website is confused... I'd suggest checking back nearer to travel, in case you have been re-seated somewhere less good following a train swap!