We are taking the train from London to Paris. We then plan to spend a couple days visiting Alsace, Strasbourg and Nancy. Are there places to get off the train before arriving in Paris? We want to ride the speed train but not sure if it stops any where between London and Paris. We will then be off to Barcelona so any help will be appreciated.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32813 posts
The official timetable is here: https://content-static.eurostar.com/documents/427437Timetables%20Core%20destinationIssue%2081_UK%20EN.PDF
Scan down until you find the train your ticket is for and you will see where, if anywhere, in the UK the train stops on the way to Channel Tunnel.
Also note that none of the London to Paris trains stop anywhere in France before reaching Gare du Nord.
If you want to stop elsewhere in France it would be Lille, the only other French city near England where it does stop, but for that you need one of the trains for Brussels as only they stop - sometimes - in Lille.
You can't just get a ticket to one place and board or get off at another.
Make sure you have enough time to check in - cutoffs are very strict.
When is your journey?
Posted by
Chicago
7876 posts
Not sure if you have train tickets yet but I would book two separate tickets one way London to Brussels on the Eurostar with 4 hour layover and then a one way from Brussels to Paris. When you arrive at Brusssels lock your bag up at the Brussels Midi train station and go see the Grand Place in Brussels and eat some fritten and have a beer.
To save money use Izy (Thalys low cost high speed rail service) for your trip to Paris:
https://www.izy.com/en
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Don't know why people are bringing up Brussels. You appear to me to be asking if there is any stop before Paris which will provide a more convenient connection to Alsace-Lorraine, and the answer is probably not. There are a few through trains from Lille to Strasbourg, but they are rare, and the connection in Paris is only a short walk from Gare du Nord to Gare de l'Est.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
Reims has a great cathedral, some Roman ruins and champagne houses.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
The Eurostar High Speed train is the only train from London to Paris, there is no "stopping train".
As the others say, you can get a train from London to Lille (that train is not going to Paris), and then a French "TGV" high speed train from Lille to Paris.
Note there are two stations in Lille, one use by trains from London, and a different one for the TGV's to Paris. Or you could overnight in Lille and get a direct train to Strasbourg.
But Reims (Between Paris and Strasbourg) is probably the better stop.
And if you get off the train and get on another one later, that is two tickets, as tickets are only valid on the train listed on the ticket.