Eurostar, the high-speed rail link between the UK and mainland Europe, is adding more trains between the UK and the continent in response to growing demand following the removal of quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers from France to the UK and the easing of restrictions for travel to Belgium and the Netherlands 1.
Higher demand in August
During August, Eurostar has seen double the amount of bookings2, and has added 39 trains for travel between the UK and the continent this month alone.3 The busiest days for travel are between 27th and 30th August, with Paris the most popular destination from the UK as travellers seize the opportunity to enjoy a summer on the Seine.
Since the easing of travel restrictions by the UK government in August, the high-speed rail operator is seeing the gradual return of the weekend break, with a 105% rise in August and September weekend trips between London and Paris compared to the same period last year4 and 83% of bookings attributed to leisure travel or visiting friends and family.
Updated timetable from September
From 6 September until 1 November, eight daily return services will operate, with five in each direction on the London to Paris route and three in each direction between London and Brussels, with one each way extended to Rotterdam and Amsterdam. The expanded timetable offers improved flexibility to both business and leisure travellers with great value fares from £39 each way.
Travellers can book with confidence knowing that all tickets are flexible with no exchange fee up to 7 days before departure,5 offering peace of mind should travel restrictions or plans change. Eurostar has introduced new measures to keep passengers safe, with trains deep cleaned before every journey, and cleaning teams on board to regularly disinfect high contact areas. All travellers must wear a mask on board and in stations, this continues to apply after check-in in London St Pancras.
Eurostar offers the most environmentally friendly choice for travel to Europe, with each journey using up to 93% less CO2 than the equivalent flight.6
Travellers should ensure they comply with the requirements for their destination country. For more information and booking visit Eurostar.com.
1The latest travel advice for all Eurostar destinations can be found on the UK government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
2 98% increase in bookings between London and the Continent, 4-14th August 2021 (following the UK governments announcement to ease quarantine restrictions), compared to the 14 days previous (21st July to 3rd August).
3 Total number of additional trains added compared to those on sale before the UK announcement ending quarantine restrictions for double vaccinated travellers from France.
4Weekend trips booked in August 2021 for travel in August and September compared to August 2020. Booking periods 05/08/21-17/08/21 compared to 05/08/20-17/08/20.
5 Customers can exchange tickets in Standard and Standard Premier as many times as they want without paying an exchange fee as long as tickets are exchanged 7 days or more before the departure date of their outbound journey. Where tickets are exchanged for a higher priced ticket, customers will need to pay the difference. Tickets exchanged within 7 days of the individual journey will incur an exchange fee. Full T&C’s available at Eurostar.com.
6 Based on independent analysis by Paul Watkiss Associated Ltd in 2020, based on 2019 CO2 emissions.
Photo credit: Eurostar
