Review on the Tracks: Eurostar Leisure Premier Experience from Brussels to London Unveiled

Having had a long weekend in Belgium, our time split between Brussels and Bruges, we opted to fly there and get the train back, taking three completely different rail experiences.  Three train hops from Bruges - first the Intercity Belgian Rail train from Bruges to Brussels Midi (just under an hour); second - two hours on the Eurostar from the same Brussels train station to London St. Pancras International; followed by the new overnight Caledonian Sleeper service from London Euston to Edinburgh (scheduled to take just under seven hours).

Bruges to Brussels by train

The train from Bruges to Brussels was uneventful, it was a newer and better air-conditioned train that the one going to Bruges, the journey time being just under an hour arriving onto the platform only a few meters from the entrance to the Eurostar check-in area (I noticed this was branded here as “Channel Terminal” trains). 

Booking seats on the Eurostar

Tickets for the Eurostar generally go on sale between 150 and 280 days in advance, I had booked ours about 6 months before (around 180 days) when they became available - the cost for Standard Premier were £117 each - at that time Standard was around £60 and Business Premier £288, so another £171 for minimal difference. Despite the three categories of tickets, on all Eurostar trains there are only two seating configurations - Standard and Premier. The difference between the two Premier fares (leisure and business) is that with business you get to take an additional piece of luggage, can arrive to check-in later, you get access to a lounge before boarding and get a full meal on the train, whereas in Standard Premier you only get a light snack with drinks. Please see the table below for the full comparison.

Boarding the Eurostar in Brussels

Being booked on the 6:56pm from Brussels (due to arrive into London St. Pancras International at 7:57pm - minus an hour time change), wanting to make sure we had enough time to get through security etc., we had arrived into Brussels Midi around 5pm. At that time however, only boarding for the 5:56pm train was allowed, so we had a wander around the (rather uninspiring) train station waiting to be allowed to check-in. There was a separate queue for Business Premier passengers but with the cheaper Standard Premier you check-in / board with Standard. 

Passengers were allowed to board about 5:45pm for the 6:56pm train, you pass through an automated ticket check barrier before going through an airline-style security check, then a manual immigration check leaving Belgium and then the option immediately thereafter of either a manual or automated UK Border Control check. As we scanned our Apple Wallet passes, there was a (not assuring like an airline if you’ve been lucky enough to have been upgraded) beep and a slip was printed showing that our seats had changed. Rather annoyingly this happened on the last Eurostar trip too from Lille to London, having booked months in advance and selected one of the new trains, this was then changed to the older type and our two individual facing (each other) seats with a table became two airlines style seats only.

Seating on board Eurostar

Originally I had booked Coach 8 seats 21 and 25, again on this trip they were changed to a different setup. While the train configuration may differ, surely the same seating allocations could be kept - i.e. if a passenger has selected two individual seats, they should be able to be accommodated in that same choice on the new train. After going through immigration, I visited the information desk to ask whether the seats we had been reallocated were facing each other and on their own. The agent checked the seating plan only to find that we had been moved into two window seats, facing each other, but as part of a four. The configuration of the business class carriages are 3 across rather than the 4 across in standard, but in the middle of the Business Premier/Standard Premier there are two sets of seats with just two on either side of the carriage, as the 4/2 seating alternates between the two halves of each carriage. The seating is exactly the same whether Business Premier or Standard Premier, the only difference is the meal service - depending on the days and times of each individual train, the carriages will be designated as one service or the other, presumably depending on the demand mix for business or leisure travelers.

The agent initially advised there was nothing else available, but then checking alternative carriages he said we could get what we wanted in carriage 16 at the rear of the train. On checking the seating plans online, I was pleased to see that of the three available train types (original, refurbished e300 and e320 the new train) it looked as if our new seating matched the plans of the e320 (new).

You can check out all the seating plans here at this website:

http://eurostar4agents.com/seating-plan

Once the seating was changed, we proceeded to the standard seating areas where we awaited boarding. Seating (for the number of passengers) seemed to be quite limited but luckily we had been quite early in the queue so were able to secure seats near the boarding area - there were only two platforms (1 and 2).

Eurostar Departure

In the departure lounge area, there were a lot of people having to stand, the only facilities were toilets (not particularly fantastic but serviceable, albeit none of the three hand sinks had soap and one of them no water), there was a cafe area, a closed chocolate shop and one vending machine. There was obviously too the Business Premier lounge which we didn’t have access to this time.

Eurostar Boarding Commences

Boarding commenced around 6:40pm, a bit chaotic as hundreds of passengers all rushed through the boarding area - the new e320 train is configured for 900 passengers when full. The train departed slightly early at 6:50pm bound initially for Lille before traveling on to London, we were meant to arrive into Lille in 30 minutes. We reached Lille around 7:25pm and departed only 6 minutes later at 7:31pm. The train was indeed the newest type as we had travelled on before, also experienced the older style and there is quite a difference. It seemed as if passengers would only alight at Lille Europe, not disembark - I presume there must be other train services more suited to this, and anyone taking a seat for the short journey would then preclude anyone wishing to travel direct from Brussels through to London. The train from Brussels, though appearing very full in the departure hall, in our carriage certainly had only less than 10 people. On leaving Lille however our carriage ended up being about 2/3rds full. The train was made up 16 carriages, in carriages 8 and 9 in the middle of the train was the onboard bar buffet, Café Métropole.

On the Eurostar Train

There was WiFi on the train and comfortable seats - we had the most space as also had the width in between only two seats across, whereas elsewhere in the carriage is only the space between three seats abreast and four in standard class.

Food on Board Eurostar

Once we had left Lille, it was announced that we would be going into the (Channel) tunnel in around thirty minutes. At this point, a light snack was served. On booking the tickets I had selected a vegetarian meal for myself, this came first to the seat with no issues - sometimes airlines have issues being able to provide the pre-chosen meal. The vegetarian meal consisted of what looked like a mushroom and olive mini-quiche with chickpea salad (the non-vegetarian option was several slices of chicken breast with potato salad), accompanied by a small ciabatta roll with delicious (French) President butter, a bottle of still water, a small apple tart and a salted caramel (mini) chocolate biscuit. There was a choice of wine to accompany the meal, as well as assorted soft drinks. I asked if there was apple juice, the attendant said she didn’t have it on the trolley but would bring some afterwards. Sure enough, about 5 minutes later she reappeared with this. Having not long eaten, I didn’t try the quiche but had the bread roll followed by the apple tart - both were delicious. A very enjoyable snack as we sped through France on the way to the tunnel. The meal service was followed by a choice of tea or coffee.

We entered the tunnel after Calais about 8pm and emerged on the other side in a different country only 24 minutes later - the length of the tunnel is just over 30 miles (over 50km).

WiFi was patchy - the train manager did advise it was a mix of 3G and 4G and could be intermittent, what I found though was that my 4G on the iPhone continued all throughout the tunnel without interruption, which was really good. 

We arrived into London Paddington at 7:56pm exactly on time - only just felt like the longest platform ever being at the back of the train in carriage 16 and having to walk all the way to the front.

My final thoughts on this short Eurostar trip

All in all a good trip, a bit disappointing at the train station in Brussels and especially when the seats had been changed, but all came good and service on the train was exemplary. Toilets really clean and well maintained, clearly new and spacious, and good for a UK/European train.