I wrote this whizzing along at 200mph through the French countryside sat comfortably in 2nd class seats on a TGV headed to Brussels. Other than a poorly designed tray table the seat is comfortable with arm rests and a foot rest. There is also a reading light, but with such glorious sunshine it is not needed. There is a noticeable lack of width at the elbow compare to our first class seats on the outbound leg of the trip and the carriage certainly feels more crowded, but other than that you are not missing much over first class. Once over you get over the thrill of travel at high speed there's not much romance about the TGV, no fancy lounges, seats or service. What the TGV does do is get you there quickly and comfortably and when paying the lower level fares makes flying feel very expensive. I suppose the romance here is your destination, your companion or perhaps a nice picnic of wine, bread, cheese and meat, or maybe some cheese sushi if you are feeling very French and very brave!


Food by Spymon26, on Flickr

Sorry, we ate all the charcuterie and left the cheese sushi on the shelf!

After a quick stop at Lyon Part-Dieu we sped off towards the outskirts of Paris for Disneyland and the Airport before we departed at Lille for our train home to London.

Arriving at Lille I normally want one of two things, a short connection to be on my way home as quickly as possible, or a longer one to grab a pint at the Irish pub and try to forget it's time to go back to work. Today we had a short connection and we joined the check in queue almost as soon as we reached the top of the escalator. They are refurbishing the check in area at Lille and due to this it was more cramped and horrible than usual. Already lacking the theatre of Paris or London the connection in Lille certainly tries everything to remind me I'm heading home and not in a good way, like seeing the BA tail fin, reading a newspaper or going out for a curry! Shuffling through to show your passport and ticket and then through the bag scanner and out into the holding pen.

Unlike the small, but otherwise pleasant waiting areas at Paris and London with shops, restaurants and the like at Lille there are a couple of vending machines, a TV and some toilets. Views are not spectacular, you just wait, shuffle into a queue, down on to the platform and wait some more. Even for someone like me who loves to take the train, the wait at Lille for the Eurostar kills what little romance is left.


Lille Departures Area by Spymon26, on Flickr



Lille Departures Area by Spymon26, on Flickr


Our train soon pulls in and we board much to the disappointment of the business people travelling from Brussels thumping away at their Thinkpads...


Eurostar Standard Seats by Spymon26, on Flickr


I read through the Eurostar magazine as we headed towards the tunnel and home. After the tunnel I start clearing though my e-mail and reading whatever news I have missed on my phone now that I don't have to pay roaming fees (WIFI coming soon on Eurostar). We speed along HS1 through Ashford, Ebbsfleet and into London. As we pass Stratford and come out of the tunnel I realise that our decision to move out of London is going to be quite tiring for the next few months having to travel along HS1 every morning. The train makes its last right turn into St Pancras and despite feeling tired and a little dejected now that the trip was over, just looking at our magnificent surroundings and the romance of travel is back. It's still here despite two months later seeing St Pancras morning and night five times a week.

To conclude, I still love taking the train but for the romantic traveller in me I like to do it with a little style and with all things being even a BA flight in Club from Terminal 5 certainly beats the Eurostar hands down, however with LYS flights still departing LHR from T1 till summer 2015 and me now living much closer to various Eurostar departure points than to Heathrow, Eurostar is very much back on the agenda for the time being. Comparing the standard class/economy products there are pros and cons to both. I enjoy the drink and snack on BA and it really helps to pass the time whilst travelling, though on the train I can bring my own food and drink. Luckily for me with BA refurbishing their short haul aircraft and moving LYS to T3 in the summer and the new Eurostar trains entering service towards the end of next year I'm curious as to how things will change because both look to be changing for the better.

If you enjoyed this but would perhaps enjoy to read something more epic, you can read my other trip reports via the links below:

You can also read and enjoy my other trip reports if you have not already:

The Adventures of Rebecca Blanton - LHR to CLE on UA (Y) AKA another LHR T2 Trial
South India: Featuring BA F, 9W, 6E, SG and the Indian Railways (and lots of food!)
Coffee in Catalonia: Featuring BA, RENFE, SNCF and some good food
Planes, Trains, Automobiles and a Boat
For Family, Football and First Class by Train
Experiencing BA Club Europe (LHR-LYS-LHR) As Family Matters
A West Coast Adventure: San Francisco, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon with VX and BA (2012)
Three Ways From A to B a Statusless Persons Guide: BA vs. Eurostar vs. Easyjet (2012)
Voyage To India: Delhi, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi (EK, SG, IT and Indian Railways, 2010)