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How long should you be at the Eurostar?

Check-in for Eurostar journeys opens an hour and 15 minutes before departure. We recommend that you arrive at least 90 minutes prior to your train leaving so you can have a stress-free check-in.



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Generally, if you'd left enough time had the delay not happened, Eurostar will re-book you onto the next available service. If you're delayed getting to the Eurostar station by something other than a train, YMMV, so it's probably best to leave more time for that.

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These are the best destinations for adventure and ski enthusiasts. Moreover, Eurostar's shortest route is between London and Lille. It takes about an hour and 22 minutes to travel between these two beautiful tourist destinations.

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When does Eurostar check-in open? Check-in for Eurostar journeys opens an hour and 15 minutes before departure. We recommend that you arrive at least 90 minutes prior to your train leaving so you can have a stress-free check-in.

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Train crews will direct you to the appropriate car and will help with your luggage. When should I arrive at the station? Unless you're taking the Auto Train, plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. If you need assistance with baggage and/or ticketing, we recommend you arrive 60 minutes early.

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If you miss your Eurostar service as a result of delays or cancellations to your National Rail service on your outbound journey you will be placed on the next available service to your Continental destination at no extra charge.

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Can I take food on board? Absolutely. You can bring your own food on European and London routes. And unlike in the sky, we won't restrict you with stifling rules on liquids.

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It can take a minimum of 7 minutes from stepping off the train to exiting Eurostar arrivals, so if you're making a tightly timed connection move towards the front of the train before it arrives in London.

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At Eurostar we set ourselves high standards of train punctuality and make every effort to get passengers to their destination on time. Our 2023 target is to ensure: 76% of trains arrive within 5 minutes of their scheduled arrival time. 86% of trains arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time.

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Your passport will be checked by UKBA security staff before being checked by French passport control. This will only take a few minutes.

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On Eurostar there's no weight limit for your luggage, but you must be able to carry and lift your bags safely on your own, as there is no porter service at the station and our teams are unfortunately unable to help with luggage. Each bag can be up to 85cm long at its widest point and should be clearly labelled.

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Our trains have free wi-fi throughout. To connect, choose EurostarTrainsWiFi then go to register.onboard.eurostar.com to get started.

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A cut in the number of border officials means it takes nearly 30% longer to process passengers leaving St Pancras International than before Brexit and the pandemic. Also contributing to the delay is the post-Brexit requirement to stamp UK passports for outbound travel.

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It's rare for the Eurostar to be delayed but of course there is no guarantee it won't be! I don't usually find the Eurostar to be delayed very often (and I use it frequently) but last month we had an hour delay after leaving Paris because there was somebody hanging around the tracks near St-Denis station.

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The reason is that the cheap return tickets have to be used on the specified train and cannot be transferred without paying more money. The single tickets generally have no restrictions on them so you can use any train on that route or get a refund if you don't use it.

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Most airlines recommend arriving at the airport three hours before departure for international flights. It's common for international flights to start boarding earlier than domestic flights (the aircraft are often larger and have higher passenger capacities), which accounts for the earlier recommendation.

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But, whichever station you're catching the Eurostar from, you'll need to make sure you've printed your tickets at least 45 minutes beforehand - this gives you time to check in and board the train. You'll also need your ID to check in.

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