Eurostar Train - The Best Way to Travel through Europe

Launched in 1994, Eurostar is a Hi Speed Rail (HSR) service, which runs between England and France connecting London with Brussels and Paris directly crossing the English Channel through a 50.5 kms (31.4 miles) long Channel Tunnel under the sea with its two linking corners Folkestone (near Dover in England) and Coquelles (close to Calais in northern part of France). It runs up to 300 kms per hour speed (which is approx 186 miles per hour) and reaches Paris Gare du Nord Train Station from London Terminal (St Pancras International) in about 2h15m with calling points at Ebbsfleet International Train Station and Ashford International Station (both in UK), and Calais Frethun Train Station and LLille International Train Station (Lille Europe) in France.  Eurostar has direct services to Brussels (up to 9 services daily called London Brussels Train) and Paris (worldwide known as London Paris Train up to 18 services daily).

Very few people know the way Eurostar is structured and owned. When Eurostar was initially launched in 1994, it was owned by SNCF (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer français, which is French National Railway Corporation), SNCB (Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Belges, which is Belgian National Railways) and British Rail.  Today, Eurostar has a unified management group called Eurostar Group Ltd (100% owner), which is owned by SNCF (62.5%), Eurostar (UK) Ltd (32.5%) and SNCB (5%).  Eurostar (UK) Ltd has a further management structure with InterCapital and Regional Rail owning 100%, which is further owned by National Express (40%), SNCF (35%), SNCB (15%) and British Airways (10% - a sleeping partner).

Facts about Eurostar

1. Eurostar has around 31 trains, out of which 27 trains operate between London (UK), Brussels (Belgium) and Paris (France).  The balance 3 trains are used for domestic use in France.  One train is a prototype for the new Eurostar fleet coming soon.
2. The length of the Eurostar train is generally 400 meters with 18 passenger carriages and 2 power cars.
3. The total number of seats on a Eurostar train are 750, out of which 544 are Standard Class seats and balance 206 are Business Premier and Leisure Select Classes.
4. 20th June 1993 - First test train arrived in UK through the Channel Tunnel route an on 06th May 1994, official inauguration of the Channel Tunnel is done.
5. St Pancras International Station was opened officially on 14th Nov 2007.
6. Eurostar has carried over 100 million customers till date and they handle on an average 1.2 million customer service calls per year.
7. On London to Paris and London to Brussels routes, Eurostar has a market share of over 70%. Around 95% of the Eurostar trains arrive on time.
8. Journey times - London Paris Train - 2h15, London Brussels Train - 1h51m, London Lille Train - 1h20m.
9. Eurostar fares start as low as £39 single and £69 return on London Paris Train and London Brussels Train.

Eurostar Stations - Eurostar stations where it calls for passengers are - St Pancras International (also called London Terminal), Ebbsfleet International (in Kent area of England), Ashford International Station (also in Kent area of UK), Calais International Station (in France), Lille Europe Train Station (Lille Flandres Gare de Lille), Brussels Midi / Zuid Train Station (in Belgium), Paris Gare du Nord (In France), Gare d'Avignon Centre (Avignon International Station, Avignon)