The actual tunnel crossing is a 20-minute, black, silent, 100-mile-per-hour nonevent. Your ears won't even pop. In the 15 years that the bullet train has been running, not much has changed except London's Eurostar station — it's now St.

Yes, your ears can definitely pop on the Eurostar, but it isn't due to altitude like an airplane; it is due to pressure waves in the Channel Tunnel. When a high-speed train enters a tunnel at 186 mph (300 km/h), it compresses the column of air ahead of it, creating a "piston effect." Although the Eurostar "e320" trains used in 2026 are highly pressurized and sealed to minimize this, the rapid changes in pressure as the train enters and exits the tunnel or passes another train can still cause a noticeable sensation in the Eustachian tubes. This typically happens as you descend into the tunnel near Calais or Folkestone. A supportive 2026 tip: the "popping" is generally much milder than on a flight. To alleviate it, simply swallow, yawn, or chew gum as the train enters the tunnel. Most passengers find it a minor sensation that lasts only a few seconds before their ears equalize to the tunnel's stable pressure.