Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 13:35 29 Mar 2024
- Delays at Dover as millions begin Easter getaway
- Attempted murder charge after man stabbed on train
- KFC Nigeria sorry after disabled diner refused service
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

On this day
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
12:30 London Paddington to Weston-Super-Mare
13:15 Swindon to Westbury
13:15 London Paddington to Cardiff Central
13:48 Bedwyn to Newbury
14:12 Newbury to Bedwyn
14:19 Westbury to Swindon
14:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
15:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
15:28 Weston-Super-Mare to London Paddington
15:50 Bedwyn to Newbury
15:54 Cardiff Central to London Paddington
16:15 Newbury to Bedwyn
16:23 Westbury to Swindon
16:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
10:55 Paignton to London Paddington
12:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
13:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
13:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
13:55 Paignton to London Paddington
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
15:42 Exeter St Davids to London Paddington
16:35 London Paddington to Plymouth
16:50 Plymouth to London Paddington
17:03 London Paddington to Penzance
17:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
18:03 London Paddington to Penzance
18:36 London Paddington to Plymouth
19:04 Paignton to London Paddington
20:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
21:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
Delayed
09:10 Penzance to London Paddington
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
10:20 Penzance to London Paddington
11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
12:03 London Paddington to Penzance
12:15 Penzance to London Paddington
13:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
13:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
14:03 London Paddington to Penzance
14:15 Penzance to London Paddington
15:03 London Paddington to Penzance
15:15 Plymouth to London Paddington
16:03 London Paddington to Penzance
16:15 Penzance to London Paddington
19:04 London Paddington to Penzance
etc
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
March 29, 2024, 13:54:01 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[153] 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury...
[97] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[53] Travel for free on the m2 metrobus - Bristol - 4,5,6 April 202...
[41] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[38] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[37] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: 1 2 [3]
  Print  
Author Topic: Eurostar - snapshot of current services  (Read 6037 times)
Timmer
Global Moderator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 6293


View Profile
« Reply #30 on: August 26, 2022, 06:23:47 »

From Rail Magazine

Quote
Eurostar services will not call at either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International station during 2023, the cross-channel operator has confirmed.

Both HS1 (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel) stations were shut at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, with the company announcing last year that they would not reopen until 2023 at the earliest.

A Eurostar spokesman blamed “an uncertain and fragile environment” for the continued closure, citing COVID-19 and Brexit as heavily influencing the latest decision.

I wonder if Eurostar will ever call at Ebbsfleet or Ashford again - are Covid and Brexit convenient reasons given for them to give up something that from a business viewpoint had become a bit of an unprofitable nuisance to them?


BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) reported the other day that it may not be until 2025:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-62647504

Quote
Eurostar has announced its services may not stop in Kent again until 2025.
The company's trains have not called at Ashford or Ebbsfleet since March 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The operator said it understood this would be disappointing for local communities.
Ashford Borough Council's leader described the decision as a "real challenge" for the community and said he would continue to push for services to be resumed.

Eurostar confirmed services carrying passengers between London St Pancras and Europe via the Channel Tunnel would not stop at the two Kent stations during 2023.

It added it would not be able to "make any commitment for another two to three years".
Eurostar cited financial factors and the post-Brexit border situation, with the EU» (European Union - about)'s entry/exit system due to be in place by the end of May 2023 expected to add "further complexity".
Continues…
Logged
TaplowGreen
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7750



View Profile
« Reply #31 on: August 30, 2022, 18:41:46 »

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-62728618.amp

Stopping services to Disneyland Paris too.
Logged
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10096


View Profile
« Reply #32 on: August 30, 2022, 20:48:19 »

Such are the perils of a fully private operation and the complications of Brexit.
Logged

To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4356


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #33 on: August 31, 2022, 06:31:10 »

There are 2 a couple of possible reasons for not stopping at Ebbsfleet and Ashford, UK (United Kingdom) Boarder Force may have redeployed there staff to other duties also the France may have reduced its staff levels added to the fact that passenger levels at both these stations is not high at the best of times.

From Rail Magazine

Quote
Eurostar services will not call at either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International station during 2023, the cross-channel operator has confirmed.

Both HS1 (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel) stations were shut at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, with the company announcing last year that they would not reopen until 2023 at the earliest.

A Eurostar spokesman blamed “an uncertain and fragile environment” for the continued closure, citing COVID-19 and Brexit as heavily influencing the latest decision.

I wonder if Eurostar will ever call at Ebbsfleet or Ashford again - are Covid and Brexit convenient reasons given for them to give up something that from a business viewpoint had become a bit of an unprofitable nuisance to them?


There will be 'political' pressure from KCC and Ashford DC (Direct Current) to have at Eurostar services stop at Ashford, however as II says

Such are the perils of a fully private operation and the complications of Brexit.

The UK Government refused to assist Eurostar or Eurotunnel during the lockdowns because they were not UK based companies, both of them were on their knees almost on the point of total collapse.   Eurostar will not be receptive to political pressure from the UK Government or local authorities.

Eurostar has to pay all the security, Border Force etc costs at all 3 UK stations, the UK Government to not provide any finance towards these costs.  Basically, if Eurostar do not believe there is sufficient revenue at Ashford and Ebbsfleet then it makes no business sense to use the stations.

Euro Disney again may be down to UK Boarder control costs at Euro Disney.

The UK Boarder Control costs is just not UK Boarder Force staff but is also Frontex costs.

I suspect the Ski specials may be next for the chop!
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
Bmblbzzz
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4256


View Profile
« Reply #34 on: August 31, 2022, 08:21:30 »

Quote
Eurostar has to pay all the security, Border Force etc costs at all 3 UK (United Kingdom) stations, the UK Government to not provide any finance towards these costs.
Surprised to learn this. Do similar arrangements apply at ferry and air ports?
Logged

Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
jamestheredengine
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 301


View Profile
« Reply #35 on: August 31, 2022, 16:12:53 »

Such are the perils of a fully private operation and the complications of Brexit.
So fully private that Eurostar is 55% owned by the French state railway, 30% by the Quebec civil service pension scheme, 5% by the Belgian state railway, and only 10% by an American asset management fund. Sounds 90% foreign public sector to me. Not really sure why we're continuing to allow their trains between Ashford International and London St Pancras really – proposing suspending their trackage rights would certainly be an interesting version of playing hard ball with intransigent Gallic bureaucrats to make them pay for their railway company's obligations. If they only want to pay for one border station, then fine, their trains can terminate at Ashford and stop disrupting what should be a regular clockface timetable on the South Eastern.
Logged

Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4356


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #36 on: August 31, 2022, 18:01:05 »

Such are the perils of a fully private operation and the complications of Brexit.
So fully private that Eurostar is 55% owned by the French state railway, 30% by the Quebec civil service pension scheme, 5% by the Belgian state railway, and only 10% by an American asset management fund. Sounds 90% foreign public sector to me. Not really sure why we're continuing to allow their trains between Ashford International and London St Pancras really – proposing suspending their trackage rights would certainly be an interesting version of playing hard ball with intransigent Gallic bureaucrats to make them pay for their railway company's obligations. If they only want to pay for one border station, then fine, their trains can terminate at Ashford and stop disrupting what should be a regular clockface timetable on the South Eastern.

Difficult to do when Highspeed 1 is privately owned, in July 2017, HS1 (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel) Ltd was acquired by a consortium comprising of funds advised and managed by InfraRed Capital Partners Limited and Equitix Investment Management Limited.HS1 Ltd has the 30-year concession to own, operate and maintain High Speed 1 (HS1), the UK (United Kingdom)’s only high-speed railway, as well as the stations along the route: St Pancras International, Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International.
Network Rail Highspeed are the maintenance contractor employed by HS1 Ltd


Quote
Eurostar has to pay all the security, Border Force etc costs at all 3 UK stations, the UK Government to not provide any finance towards these costs.
Surprised to learn this. Do similar arrangements apply at ferry and air ports?

Yes, the Port Authority pay the cost
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
Bmblbzzz
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4256


View Profile
« Reply #37 on: August 31, 2022, 19:03:41 »


Quote
Eurostar has to pay all the security, Border Force etc costs at all 3 UK (United Kingdom) stations, the UK Government to not provide any finance towards these costs.
Surprised to learn this. Do similar arrangements apply at ferry and air ports?

Yes, the Port Authority pay the cost
I see, thanks.
Logged

Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10096


View Profile
« Reply #38 on: September 01, 2022, 15:46:29 »

Such are the perils of a fully private operation and the complications of Brexit.
So fully private that Eurostar is 55% owned by the French state railway, 30% by the Quebec civil service pension scheme, 5% by the Belgian state railway, and only 10% by an American asset management fund. Sounds 90% foreign public sector to me. Not really sure why we're continuing to allow their trains between Ashford International and London St Pancras really – proposing suspending their trackage rights would certainly be an interesting version of playing hard ball with intransigent Gallic bureaucrats to make them pay for their railway company's obligations. If they only want to pay for one border station, then fine, their trains can terminate at Ashford and stop disrupting what should be a regular clockface timetable on the South Eastern.

Fair enough.  I guess I meant to say fully private in that the DfT» (Department for Transport - about) has no say in what it runs and doesn’t run and where it stops.
Logged

To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4356


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #39 on: September 02, 2022, 06:27:58 »

Such are the perils of a fully private operation and the complications of Brexit.
If they only want to pay for one border station, then fine, their trains can terminate at Ashford and stop disrupting what should be a regular clockface timetable on the South Eastern.

More often than not its SE Trains that are running late
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
Bmblbzzz
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4256


View Profile
« Reply #40 on: October 04, 2022, 14:20:57 »

Letter from CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Eurostar to the Transport Select Committee setting out the difficulties the company is facing and why it cannot reopen Kent services.
https://twitter.com/EurostarJustinp/status/1574711574337495041
Logged

Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
bobm
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 9810



View Profile
« Reply #41 on: October 04, 2022, 14:52:50 »

I wonder if Eurostar will ever call at Ebbsfleet or Ashford again?

..and if so how long before both stations drop their International suffix?
Logged
Electric train
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 4356


The future is 25000 Volts AC 750V DC has its place


View Profile
« Reply #42 on: October 04, 2022, 15:58:35 »

Letter from CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Eurostar to the Transport Select Committee setting out the difficulties the company is facing and why it cannot reopen Kent services.
https://twitter.com/EurostarJustinp/status/1574711574337495041


I think the Eurostar CEO is politely saying to the Select Committee and UK (United Kingdom) Government "you have brought much of this on yourselves" by not providing the UK Government backed loans and as for the Regulator, I assume the ORR» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about), dragging in the sand that is shameful.

The UK would appear to be an expensive place to operate, Eurostar Yellow is small in comparison the Eurostar Red (Thalys).

I fully understand the CEO's point about Boarder controls the Eurostar and La Shuttle were designed and built with freedom of movement in mind the concept of a hard Boarder was possibly not considered
Logged

Starship just experienced what we call a rapid unscheduled disassembly, or a RUD, during ascent,”
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40692



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #43 on: January 25, 2023, 07:37:32 »

From the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

Quote
The boss of Eurostar has said its trains between the UK (United Kingdom) and Paris are carrying 30% fewer passengers.

Chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave said with post-Brexit border checks and current levels of border staff, there were "bottlenecks" in stations.

Eurostar is currently running 14 services per day between London and Paris, compared with 18 in 2019.

Ms Cazenave said the company might not restore some services suspended last year due to the problems.

"The thing is now we are not able to run the same transport offer as what we had before in 2019, because of bottlenecks in stations," she said.

"We have a main issue in Eurostar terminals because of the new boarding conditions between the UK and EU» (European Union - about), because of the impact of Covid, because of staff in the stations."

From my experience last autumn, Eurostar services and lounges were extremely busy on the service level being operated with the main issue being queues at physical security / scanners, not all of which were in use even on trains that were sold out.  Whilst there is extra processing, I wonder if it suits Eurostar's business model to have a product that's got some scarcity value and run fewer trains than they could at average seat prices above what the average would be if they were running more services.
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: 1 2 [3]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page