Originally Posted by
corporate-wage-slave
From what I can make out, it is built on an existing relationship that BA has with First Great Western. It has long been possible to book services from (e.g.) Exeter to Shanghai with a train sector on BA. So FGW appears to be used as a mechanism already in place, only drawing on National Rail sectors. Online check in for the flights is the normal process, but for the train (and coach) components
(...)
Maybe one day BA can expand this a bit more for wider train + plane use UK wide.
This works very well in Germany (with LH) and France (with AF). SXB lost most, if not all, its AF flights to Paris, relying on HS trains between Strasbourg and CDG instead. You can even check your luggage at Strasbourg station IIRC. But the important point here is that FRA and CDG both have their own HS line station.
If only HS2 had an extension to LHR...
(Sorry, a bit O/T)