We will be traveling on Thalys from Amsterdam to Brussels midi and then onto Eurostar to London St. Pancras. then from paddington to cardiff on a Monday in a few weeks. We have about 1 1/2 hours between each train trip. What should we expect at these locations in the area of luggage checks, passport screening...etc.? Do we go through screenings at each stop? (USA Citizens). Wondering if we have booked enough time in between trains after reading some posts.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
At Amsterdam, you just get on the train. At Brussels you will just walk off the train.
At Brussels Midi (there is more than one station Brussels) you need to be at the Eurostar ticket barrier at least 30 minutes before departure. This is because you will have a luggage X-ray and two passport checks before you can get on the train. One is for your exit from the Schengen Area (Belgian officials), and one for entry to the UK (British officials). As US citizens they will both stamp your passport.
At London St Pancras you just walk off the train.
You then need to get to Paddington Station. Your options are tube (cheap) or taxi (expensive).
At Paddington you wait until your train shows on the departure board (about 15 minutes before departure), then go through the ticket barriers and get on the train.
As for time. I would allow at least 45 minutes at Brussels, and at least 60 in London. Do you have to pick up tickets in either location? If so allow an extra 15 minutes.
P.S. I have done both interchanges many times. A "newbie" might want to allow more. Buying food and coffee at Paddington before you get on the train is a good idea (add 15 minutes).
Posted by
OP
Murrieta, Ca
117 posts
great info. thanks so much.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5326 posts
Is your London to Cardiff ticket from London International CIV rather than simply Paddington? If so, travel on the Underground between St Pancras and Paddington is included in the ticket. This is quite likely if you have bought it from Eurostar, less likely if they have been bought separately.
Posted by
2409 posts
You could have flown direct from Amsterdam to Cardiff with KLM or with Easyjet (cheaper) into Bristol. I take it that you wanted the train experience.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4044 posts
Or KLM non-stop into Cardiff. Unfortunately it is too late to get a bargain price but if you had shopped a month earlier you might have found a ticket that costs less than the combined train fares. Quicker, too, obviously. For budget air fares in Europe I like www.skyscanner.com