Eurostar “Chunnel Train” To Slash London-Paris Travel Times This Fall
Eurostar passengers are due for a service upgrade this November. That’s when the famous English Channel Tunnel train starts moving at a faster clip. Introduction of the UK’s first true high-speed line has been much anticipated. It promises a greener, more convenient travel experience… along with shorter trip times between Southeast England and Europe.
It has been over a dozen years since Eurostar initiated direct passenger rail linking London with Brussels and Paris. In that time, the train has become the preferred choice for crossing between Britain and the Continent — more popular than either channel ferries or travel by air. Now, with new high-speed track between London and the coast cutting at least 20 minutes off travel times, the under-sea shuttle promises to be more popular than ever.
The skinny on the project is High Speed 1 (HS1), a 68-mi/109-km fast track formerly called the Channel Tunnel Rail Link. Over a decade in the making, the line will enable Eurostar to sustain speeds of up to 186-mph/300-km/h. In practical terms that means London to...