YOUR trip to Paris or Amsterdam could be much cheaper next year – if you travel by train.
Train regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) had said fares should be cut by 7.7 per cent from April 2025.
Eurostar fares could fall by 7.7 per cent[/caption]
The move comes as Eurostar seat sales soar post-Covid[/caption]
The call comes after a huge demand in Eurostar seats since Covid restrictions lifted.
Feras Alshaker, ORR director for planning and performance, said the high speed train line was a ” vital connection between the UK and continental Europe“.
They added: “[It] makes a crucial contribution to the UK economy, supporting growth.
“The detailed scrutiny and challenge we’ve applied to HS1 Ltd’s plans should see the costs of operating on the line reduce significantly, giving savings for both international and domestic operators over the next five years, with benefits for passengers and freight users.”
And HS1 Ltd chief strategy and regulation officer Mattias Bjornfors said they “welcomed” the five-year plan to reduce fares.
He added: “Our plan for 2025-2030 included several proposals to reduce charges for freight and transport operators which have been accepted.
The fare reduction would see Eurostar tickets around 7.7 per cent cheaper.
It would also affect Southeastern routes, being cut by 10.8 per cent which connects London to many of Kent’s seaside towns such as Margate and Folkestone.
Freight services could be cut by as much as 66 per cent.
Currently, Brits can travel to Europe with Eurostar for as little as £39 each way.
This includes route from London St Pancras to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
These fares are in short supply however, and often not at peak times or weekends.
There are also calls for more Eurostar stops in the UK.
Previously stopping at Ashford International, this was paused during the Covid pandemic and is yet to return.
Despite petitions and calls from local MPs for it to return, experts have said it is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
And there are also calls for it to stop at Stratford International, which the Eurostar also travels through.
The station was initially built for international train routes – although has never had them, being just seven minutes from London St Pancras.
A number of train operators have revealed plans to take on Eurostar with UK-Europe routes.
Virgin Trains could launch routes between the UK and Europe for the first time ever.
And start-up Evolyn has revealed plans to launch train services between London to Paris.
Sun Travel’s favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel’s journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray
