This was published 1 year ago
Train review: Eurostar, Brussels-Midi/Zuid to London, St Pancras
The sleekly modern high-speed e320 trains were introduced to the Eurostar routes in 2015.Credit: Alamy
THE JOURNEY
Brussels-Midi/Zuid to London, St Pancras with a scheduled journey time of two hours and one minute aboard a sleekly modern high-speed e320 train set introduced in 2015.
THE CLASS
I'm booked in the oxymoronically-named Standard Premier class, on one of multiple daily services between the two cities. This seating class on Eurostar journeys, sits, as it were, between Standard and Business Premier classes. Standard Premier offers most of the perks of Business Premier, sans cushy lounge access, but at a more competitive price.
CARBON EMISSIONS
4.3 kilograms per rail passenger on this electrified route compared to 51.7 kilograms per air passenger.
BOARDING
With Britain's severed EU ties, airport-style passport and security formalities are necessary at the separate Eurostar-branded terminal within the overall Brussels Midi-Zuid Station. It runs smoothly enough but the enclosed seated waiting area below the station's platforms is fairly crowded with too much space devoted to duty free shopping. Eurostar recommends arriving at Brussels Midi-Zuid between 90 and 120 minutes before departure.
THE SEAT
My extremely comfortable and spacious solo seat, arranged in a 1-2 formation (compared to a 2-2 setting in Standard class), reclines 10 centimetres without disturbing the passenger behind you. The seat, complete with leather headrest and power sockets, has always been the best aspect of the Eurostar experience. Wi-Fi is free throughout the journey with connectivity even available inside the Chunnel with the multi-lingual Eurostar stewards in Standard Premier courteous, efficient and helpful from start to finish.
BAGGAGE
Standard Premier passengers are allowed two pieces of larger luggage and one smaller piece of hand luggage. Baggage storage space at either end of each carriage is ample though if you are a little laden with suitcases be among the first to board in order to secure your spot.
FOOD + DRINK
A Standard Premier fare includes a pleasant light meal, served at your seat, with lunch on this service a choice of two dishes and a dessert and alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages. (I opt for a cold option Suffolk chicken, potato, radish and celery salad with pesto creme fraiche). There's no dining car aboard and Cafe Metropole, a kiosk selling a range of snacks and drinks which I didn't need to visit.
ONE MORE THING…
My originally booked Rotterdam to London Eurostar journey was cancelled due to a Dutch national rail strike. That meant hurriedly rebooking and transferring from Rotterdam to Brussels the evening before to avoid the strike, paying for not only a new Eurostar ticket but also hotel accommodation. An e-voucher, not a refund, for future travel was offered. After protesting that such a policy disadvantages overseas travellers who travel to Europe infrequently, a promised refund, at the time of writing, hasn't materialised.
THE VERDICT
Eurostar is a pleasurable, efficient and eco-friendly way to travel in Europe, delivering direct, point-to-point, city central access. Except, that is, when unexpected circumstances, as above, intervene, leading to an expensive undertaking.
OUR RATING OUT OF FIVE
★★★½
This is the first of our new Train Lines rail journey reviews which will occasionally share this space with Flight Path.
The writer travelled at his own expense following a hosted voyage aboard Norwegian Prima between Reykjavik and Amsterdam. See eurostar.com; ncl.com
See also: A new golden age of train travel is upon us
See also: Switzerland just broke the record for the world's longest passenger train
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