Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => The Wider Picture in the United Kingdom => Topic started by: grahame on June 24, 2019, 19:57:54



Title: Eurostar goes almost dry
Post by: grahame on June 24, 2019, 19:57:54
From The BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-48742530)

Quote
Eurostar has defended limiting the amount of alcohol passengers can carry on its trains as necessary to "maintain a pleasant environment".

The train operator explained its position after customers complained on social media about changes to the policy.
It allows one bottle of wine or four cans of beer and no spirits.

Previously, there were restrictions on ski resort routes and temporary ones for sporting events.

Although Eurostar says it made the changes last year, passengers appear to have only just started to notice.


Title: Re: Eurostar goes almost dry
Post by: infoman on June 25, 2019, 05:18:31
I think Australia banned the selling of alcohol on their trains some time ago.


Title: Re: Eurostar goes almost dry
Post by: grahame on June 25, 2019, 08:48:34
I think Australia banned the selling of alcohol on their trains some time ago.

As I read it, you can still buy alcohol (including spirits) on Eurostar ... and you can pay their shippers £30 a piece to send your luggage ahead off you / behind you rather than accompanying it.  I wonder how much the ban is because of antisocial behaviour and attempts to limit it, and how much might be intended to help generate income for luggage handling and on train sales of booze.


Title: Re: Eurostar goes almost dry
Post by: Phantom on June 25, 2019, 10:28:18
I think Australia banned the selling of alcohol on their trains some time ago.

Let's be honest with the new IET trains with their "mobile" buffets, GWR are basically operating a dry train already
Three Saturdays on the trot recently I travelled from Weston to Paddington, out of those six journeys I only saw the trolley once


Title: Re: Eurostar goes almost dry
Post by: broadgage on June 25, 2019, 11:27:57
Another small but regrettable step towards making rail travel less attractive and more hassle, if compared to air or road transport.
Alcoholic drink may be carried in a car on a cross channel ferry, or in an aircraft, with the volume limited only by customs regulations, or by limits on size or weight of luggage.

To carry a bottle of spirits as a gift on Eurostar will cost an extra £30 as checked luggage, but by air or road/ferry there is no extra charge. That will help increase air transport and carbon emissions.


Title: Re: Eurostar goes almost dry
Post by: ellendune on June 25, 2019, 23:22:53
To carry a bottle of spirits as a gift on Eurostar will cost an extra £30 as checked luggage, but by air or road/ferry there is no extra charge. That will help increase air transport and carbon emissions.

Wouldn't fancy my chances getting it through security at Heathrow in hand baggage! Checked baggage on planes is now extra too. 


Title: Re: Eurostar goes almost dry
Post by: mjray on June 26, 2019, 11:46:25
Wouldn't fancy my chances getting it through security at Heathrow in hand baggage! Checked baggage on planes is now extra too. 
At least checked baggage on planes is available on all routes where it's required. Eurostar's checked baggage is only available between London and Paris/Lille/Brussels.

You also have to drop it off 90 minutes before departure, eroding another key selling point of Eurostar - remember, their front page promotes "Two-bag travel allowance and no extra fees" and "Save time and money" as two of their features and this change has weakened both of those - hope the profit from selling more checked baggage is worth it for them!


Title: Re: Eurostar goes almost dry
Post by: Celestial on June 26, 2019, 16:10:53
It looks as though Eurostar has backed down/clarified its position (you choose) to only relate to alcohol consumed on board. So you can still bring back booze for consumption later. 





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