Seek your opinions - should i book Eurostar/train in advance

The Eurostar is powered by electricity.

There really is no knowing. Even if everyone were to get along tomorrow, fuel prices will not get back down to pre-war levels for a long time.

The main issue you sound like you are having is if you will decide to cancel your trip due to concerns that an extended fuel shortage will affect the quality of the trip, or do you have other concerns about how the shortage would affect the trip? Only you can make a decision on whether you are comfortable going. I doubt fuel shortages will severely affect train ticket prices or schedules, nearly all are electric trains, and while electrical generation can be affected, it is not as direct as gasoline, aviation fuel, and diesel prices.

Myself, I have a trip planned in mid-April/early May and another in mid-July/early August. I have flight tickets, rooms reserved for the most part, and am not having any qualms about going.

The further out you book a Eurostar ticket the cheaper it is: https://www.eurostar.com.

The Eurostar is powered by electricity.

Electricity is often generated by burning oil.

When are you planning to travel?

I'd say yes to going ahead and booking so you can pick your seats. I booked yesterday for a December trip and got in the single seats in Premium that I like. The price was such that if something happens to me between now and December it's a low enough expenditure that I can eat the cost with no problem if I have to cancel.

Will your Mom be with you? Unlike your other train experience you posted about, the Eurostar trains do sell out on the London-Paris route, at least.

I guess I'm wondering why you would cancel a trip? Are you planning to drive or will you do public transit?

Electricity is often generated by burning oil.

Not in Western Europe. Eurostar trains have been running on 100 per cent wind power in the Netherlands since 2017, with the UK figure at 40 per cent since 2023. In Belgium, the rail network has signed a MoU with to study the installation of solar projects to power trains, meanwhile using a combination of nuclear power, wind power and gas-fired power stations.

the vast majority of the electricity powering the Eurostar in France is nuclear.

I know Cornwall is a long way from the home counties and Cornish folk do things a little differently (my neighbour for 20 years was Cornish) but in this part of the UK much of the electricity feeding the Eurostar in England is wind and solar, gas making up the rest (with a tiny bit of nuclear).

No little oils are harmed in the running of the Eurostar.

It would have helped if you had stated when you plan to travel, and from where. Next month? 6 months from now? Next year?

Eurostar tickets are like plane tickets. The longer you wait to buy them, the more you will pay. If you buy your tickets now (assuming they are available for sale), then it doesnt really matter what is going on in the Middle East. You have your tickets. Unless of course you are in one of the countries that are totally dependant on Middle Eastern oil and will face fuel shortages so severe that airlines will stop flying out of your country. In that case, I would suggest you will have bigger problems than forfeiting the comparatively small cost of a train ticket.

The odds of the Eurostar not running due to power outages due to fuel shortages are miniscule.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/philippines-says-grounding-planes-distinct-possibility

Philippines says grounding planes a ‘distinct possibility’

I thought we were talking about trains versus planes?? Different animal. And Mr E is right: Eurostar doesn't serve the Philippines anyway so grounding planes there is a moot point in relation to trains in Europe.

Apparently the OP lives in the Philippines and is worried that he will be unable to fly out of there. Therefore is unsure if he should pay now for a Eurostar ticket that he may not be able to use. I suspect that an ESL difficulty may be at play in any lack of clarity here. In any case, it would help to know when this trip is supposed to start.

France doesn't get much of its electricity from hydrocarbon, no. But it does get nearly 70% from nuclear. Electricity in France is so abundant that the past two years in a row, France has exported electricity.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/270367/share-of-nuclear-power-in-the-power-supply-of-selected-countries/?srsltid=AfmBOoqeO_M8lTQ7twjbTNwrzL0sYZsjz2Ar6aWiiILnVi5LYQmsgftq

I wish you success in all your travels, J@p28al

but when people write a lot of good information replying to your questions - we are all volunteers you know, no paid staff here - and you delete the thread, like your experiences on British trains, we are less eager to help. I know I am.

I write not only to help you but others in your shoes who come across the thread. If you have deleted it they can't benefit.

Good luck

Apparently the OP lives in the Philippines and is worried that he will
be unable to fly out of there.

Ah. I didn't get that impression but it could be the case, Cjean. J@p28al, please clear that up for us? As asked (but not answered) multiple times in a previous thread concerning your travel insurance, what passport are you traveling on and where are you coming from?

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/scramble-jet-fuel-shows-how-energy-shortages-are-rippling-across-asia
https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/3226093/air-travel-crisis-could-spread-beyond-asia
https://www.facebook.com/EUInstituteforSecStudies/videos/50-of-global-jet-fuel-come-from-the-gulf-the-war-in-the-middle-east-could-affect/26758007073792078/
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/european-airlines-look-shake-off-green-agenda-fuel-prices-soar-2026-03-19/
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/24/seven-charts-that-reveal-how-unprepared-australia-was-for-the-fuel-crisis
https://australianaviation.com.au/2026/03/australias-jet-fuel-supply-secure-for-now-says-transport-minister/
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/australia-races-ease-fuel-supply-iran-war-brings-shortage-risk-2026-03-13/

I dunno why you assume that I'm from Philippines. I'm from Asia country.

The new article i stated earlier indicate the possibility that the government all over the world may consider grounding the airlines given the fuel shortage if the Straits of Hormuz is persistently closed to the world.

The jet fuel shortage affects not only Asia but also Australia.

I do not know that Eurostar use nuclear.

From the source: https://www.iea.org/news/new-iea-report-highlights-options-to-ease-oil-price-pressures-on-consumers-in-response-to-middle-east-supply-disruptions
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has advised the Australian Government to take drastic measures to reduce the demand on oil. The IEA’s 10 recommendations include promoting working from home and car-pooling, lowering highway speed limits, reducing air travel, and increasing public transport.

https://travelweekly.com.au/airlines-may-cut-flights-as-jet-fuel-crisis-bites-warns-the-australian-aviation-expert-robyn-ironside/

Apparently the OP lives in the Philippines and is worried that he will
be unable to fly out of there. Therefore is unsure if he should pay
now for a Eurostar ticket that he may not be able to use.

As said earlier, I'm not from Philippines. I state the news on Philippines which does not indicate that I'm from Philippines.
I stress the crucial of fuel shortage is related to air travel. Very important to know.
It's not just Philippines issue but worldwide issue.

What you said is correct - I'm not sure if I should book Eurostar ticket in advance which I may not be able to use due to grounded air travel.

Updates: https://www.ft.com/content/4951005c-359a-41c0-b062-8b4b86951c5d?syn-25a6b1a6=1
European jet fuel supplies under threat as Iran war halts flows

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/mar/25/europe-could-face-iran-war-fuel-rationing-by-april-warns-shell-boss
Europe could face fuel shortage by April as Iran throttles supplies, says Shell boss

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/20/business/oil-jetfuel-asia.html
If You Want to Know What Happens in an Oil Crisis, Look at Asia

J@p28al I appreciate the anxiety you are feeling about commiting to travel in uncertain times. No one who participates in this forum can predict what will happen to flights today or six months from today, no matter how many news stories there are on the subject.

To your original question, you can book a higher class fare on Eurostar that has fully or partially refundable tickets. Read the details as there are time frames for the refund. It might be about the same price as waiting to buy close to your travel dates. You have not said when you are going but if is a busy time of year there may be no tickets left if you wait too long. Unfortunately this is one decision you will have to make based on imperfect information.

"The jet fuel shortage affects not only Asia but also Australia.'

There is no jet fuel shortage in Australia - where did you get that idea from? In fact our national carrier Qantas has just announced it will increase flights to Europe due to increased demand from people who would otherwise have flown via middle east carriers.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-26/qantas-ramps-up-europe-flights-to-avoid-middle-east/106499916

The IEA has given the same advice about reducing air travel to all countries; it's not specific to Australia.

J@p28al, no one here is going to read through all your links, and no one can predict if fuel shortages might affect your travel plans. The risk of needing to pay more at the stations or for nonrefundable train tickets, tours, hotels, etc. is something we all have to weigh when planning our trips if something goes wonky. ANYTHING can happen at ANY time. Very kindly but you're going to need to weigh what's the acceptable level of risk for you personally. If an unpredictable situation is going to cause you this amount of stress, then maybe it's best to choose to travel another time?

Can you please tell us when you'll be traveling, from where, and to where. The more information we have to work with, the better people can help.

Folks, I've removed several posts. Other than clarifying that the Eurostar draws it's energy from the electrical grid and is unlikely to be heavily affected by any risk of oil shortages or higher prices, debating the specifics of the composition of grid energy sources is not helpful in keeping things on topic for the OP, especially when there are other points of confusion that need to be worked out.

I think we've determined that this is more about the risk of flight cancellations from a particular part of Asia, and we're not sure where that is yet. CL posted good info about refundable Eurostar tickets.

Guideline #1 is to stay on topic. Thanks everyone.

My apology for not being clear in the first place.

We are still waiting for the government to announce whether air travel has to be grounded or not. The truth is, the Iran war has not ended yet. I think it might persist for few years similar to other wars - Hama vs Israel. The news state that UK has fuel shortage now. We dunno if UK govt decide to ground air travel. I dunno when.....

Right now, if you were me, will you book the train ticket first or wait and see how it goes regardless the train ticket price increases when time is nearer to your travel time?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/01/uk-is-most-vulnerable-european-country-to-jet-fuel-shortages-ryanair-boss-says

"Right now, if you were me, will you book the train ticket first or wait and see how it goes regardless the train ticket price increases when time is nearer to your travel time?"

To me it depends on when you plan to travel.

It also depends on how many are traveling. For myself, a solo traveler, I can afford to eat the price of the Eurostar ticket from London to Paris that I mentioned earlier that I've already purchased for December travel. If I were a family of 4 that is a lot more money and possibly a different matter.

It also depends on how many are traveling. For myself, a solo
traveler, I can afford to eat the price of the Eurostar ticket from
London to Paris that I mentioned earlier that I've already purchased
for December travel. If I were a family of 4 that is a lot more money
and possibly a different matter.

Good to know that you are still planning to travel in Dec 2026.

I wonder if you are reading or watching TV news about fuel shortage or energy conservation. Many countries encourage their citizens to conserve electricity/energy. I still don't know whether air travel might be grounded much later. What if your government announce the air travel grounded due to fuel shortage, what would you do? Still will buy train ticket after you bought air ticket although your government has not announced about air travel being grounded yet?

I am trying to convey that there might be a possibility about air travel being grounded.

Only you can judge your own risk tolerance. Personally I think there is pretty much zero chance of a general grounding of flights, although obviously fuel costs and airfares are both rising. I'm booked to travel in May, September and November (so far), and have no intention of not traveling.

Back to your original question, Eurostar tickets will be more expensive if you book later.

Again very kindly, J@p28al, you are asking for reassurances regarding the fuel situation, as related to air travel, that no one can provide. My own 2-cents? As those costs rise, so will ticket prices/fees; they already are. Again, the choice you make will depend on your own risk tolerance. Yours appears to be such that it may be best if you postpone your trip altogether; It's not worth the anxiety this is causing you, IMHO.

As well, it's puzzling that our continued requests for information regarding where you'll be traveling from, where to, with whom, and WHEN are going unanswered. ??

Simon summed up the Eurostar question: the longer you wait to book, the more expensive the tickets will be. CL also gave you good information on booking class fares on Eurostar that are fully or partially refundable depending on time frames.

J@p28al,
Many forum members have kindly offered advice and suggestions to your query. It would be nice to know if their efforts have helped you at all. Perhaps you could respond to their questions and suggestions? It is nice to know if the time spent to lend assistance has been worthwhile. We have all been in need of advice many times and appreciate the support. Thank you.

Eurostar have a flash sale on until 13 April, for travel until 4 July with certain black out dates. Fares from £35.
If that is within your date span then that might help you. The tickets are not refundable but if you can find such a low fare then it's so cheap you could just eat the cost if the circumstances merit a trip cancellation.

Eurostar have a flash sale on until 13 April, for travel until 4 July
with certain black out dates. Fares from £35. If that is within your
date span then that might help you. The tickets are not refundable but
if you can find such a low fare then it's so cheap you could just eat
the cost if the circumstances merit a trip cancellation.

Thanks for letting me know about the offer in advance. I saw that. Unfortunately, my travel is not between now and July. :(

It would be nice to know if their efforts have helped you at all.
Perhaps you could respond to their questions and suggestions? It is
nice to know if the time spent to lend assistance has been worthwhile.

Judy, Yes, some advice they offered are helpful. For example, someone below earlier mentioned Eurostar ticket can be fully or partially refunded if i buy it high class ticket. I appreciate their information. But frankly, I do not know how to articulate my thoughts how to make you understand the gravity of the matter on fuel shortage.

To your original question, you can book a higher class fare on
Eurostar that has fully or partially refundable tickets. Read the
details as there are time frames for the refund. It might be about the
same price as waiting to buy close to your travel dates.

Wait a min. I just read out that Eurostar website only mentions Standard ticket which can be refunded. It states "You can also get a refund up to 7 days before travel for €25/£25/$40."

Personally I think there is pretty much zero chance of a general
grounding of flights, although obviously fuel costs and airfares are
both rising. I'm booked to travel in May, September and November (so
far), and have no intention of not traveling.

Simon, i understand that you have no intention of not travelling. What i meant is, we go travelling via air flight is beyond our control, depending on the government's sudden announcement that the entire flight industry might be cancelled due to fuel shortage. Nothing to do with our intention whether we want to travel or not.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/possible-jet-fuel-shortages
It is a good thread discussion.

“ But frankly, I do not know how to articulate my thoughts how to make you understand the gravity of the matter on fuel shortage.”

You could start by telling us when you plan to travel and from where. That way people might get a bit more understanding.

You could start by telling us when you plan to travel and from where.

To somewhere in Europe during the fall.

thanks for the further info.

No, if you are asking about end of September to December - fall - that is at least 5 or 6 months away no way would I be buying anything nonrefundable that far ahead. War in Iran or not. Fuel shortages or not - no way do I ever buy anything I can't change that far ahead.

Anything can happen at any time - you can have an accident or an illness, or a member of family or friend may. Airlines change schedules all the time.

But I'm confused. You are asking about Eurostar. I had presumed you were talking about Eurostar Blue - in and out of London to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam - all via the Channel Tunnel.

Is that your concern? You said you are going to somewhere in Europe.

So are you really asking about Eurostar Red - the much larger network which used to be called Thalys and is the high priced often high speed network in Belgium, France, Netherlands and Germany???

There is plenty of competition to Eurostar Red, other companies, slower trains and similar but different routes.

At the moment there is not competition for Eurostar Blue.

.

For the cheapest price on Eurostar, buy in advance.

For maximum flexibility, buy a refundable ( higher price) ticket.

To somewhere in Europe during the fall.

Offering useful advice to someone who is coming from "Asia" ( But not the Philippines) to "somewhere in Europe" that at some point will involve the Eurostar between Sept 20th and Dec 20th ( "Fall") is a challenge.

Asia could be Vladivostok or Ankara

Trying to answer OP at this point is like using a blunderbuss to pick off the 2nd rabbit from the left at 200 yards.

Good luck