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Eurostar Question - Planned engineering works

Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening!

I am posting this here because I know we have some "experts" who live in the UK and understand the workings of the train system better than I do.

I was looking to book Eurostar on 25 November. However, after finding no available trains I discovered this in the service information:
" No Eurostar trains are currently available to book between London and Paris on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 November. This is because of planned engineering works on the high-speed line we use in northern France.

Tickets will go on sale once the impact is known, and our timetable has been finalised. We’re sorry for the inconvenience this delay might cause."

I am trying to decide if I dare wait it out or if I should look at other options to get back and forth. Is there a chance that there won't be ANY trains? Anyone got any thoughts/relevant experience.

Posted by
7055 posts

Since the problem is in France, the France forum might have been a better idea. But hopefully it won't matter.

It clearly says "Tickets will go on sale once the impact is known, and our timetable has been finalised." so I would wait if it was my trip, assuming the exact timing is not too important.

Posted by
8151 posts

There is a similar note about work on the UK section of the High Speed line which reads-

START
We are running fewer trains than normal on Sunday 26 November due to engineering works on the UK high-speed line.

If you want to travel on that day

Please note that:

no trains will run from London before 10:00
and some departure or arrival times are different to our usual Sunday timetable.
Due to unrelated trackworks in the Netherlands, no trains will be running to or from Rotterdam or Amsterdam on that day. Please see our travel update about engineering works in the Netherlands for more info.
END
The note about work in the Netherlands reads-
START
Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 November and Saturday 02 to Sunday 03 December 2023

Trains will not stop at Rotterdam or Amsterdam on these dates. All trains between London and the Netherlands will terminate or start their journeys at Brussels-Midi/Zuid.
END

All of which clearly implies that there will be trains running, but on a reduced and amended schedule.

This is over three months away- the railways of three countries need to co-ordinate, which will take time.

What this probably means is crowded trains, and there are unlikely to be significantly discounted fares.

Whether you think that this means that you should fly, or possibly retard or advance your travel to a weekday is a personal decision.

Posted by
2793 posts

Thanks for the feedback

Since someone else is paying (work) discounts aren’t a deal breaker. But I have to br in London on Monday morning

May have to fly.