Eurostar testing next week

pudding

We all took small cases with wheels..It was quite funny really as it looked like everyone was going on holiday with all the luggage etc

cannyscot_2

Were there many children? and how big a bag do you have to bring? Are you just walking in a queue , all the time or sitting about so time to read? I have to entertain my children!

cannyscot_2

Ps I am strangley excited even though I have only 2nd class but i did think we would get as far as ebsfleet.

STAR_BUCK

I just bought a big bag with me ratehr than lug luggaage on wheels. It's fine though.

bigvince76

Hey, how do you get 1st class? I want first class! I'm doing next week, quite looking forward to it.

Mr_Mister

cannyscot wrote: »

Were there many children? and how big a bag do you have to bring? Are you just walking in a queue , all the time or sitting about so time to read? I have to entertain my children!

Trust me dont bring any large luggage esp if you have children. There will be a lot of walking on the platforms to get to the trains. I felt sorry for a group of women who brought prams and were struggling in the trains. By the time u find your seat and sit comfortably, its probably time to get off again.
I just took small ruck sacks with snacks.
Another annoying thing is that if one of the trains is delayed, the departure lounge gets crowded and there will not be enough seats for everyone. So be prepared to stand.

pudding

cannyscot wrote: »

Were there many children? and how big a bag do you have to bring? Are you just walking in a queue , all the time or sitting about so time to read? I have to entertain my children!

I had a 5 year old and 12 year old with me...you all probably saw me there with my son being pulled around on his TRUNKI suitcase..Yes that was us....

Tom125

bigvince76 wrote: »

Hey, how do you get 1st class? I want first class! I'm doing next week, quite looking forward to it.

I don't know how you get the first class tickets. We only got standard class, but when on the train, there was a fair amount of space in first class- so we chose some nice first class seats that nobody was in. Quite a few people seemed to do this. The Eurostar staff didn't seem to care.

RAGSTORICHES

My Husband And I Went Yesterday. I Am Disabled And In Wheelchair And The Worse Bit For Us Was Waiting For Ramps When Boarding And Especially When Departing Once We Waited 2o Mins.they Did Not Have A Ramp For Each Platform So The Poor Guy Spent All Day Dragging It Round.
There Was Some Shortage Of Seats And My Husband Ate His Lunch Sitting On Floor.
However If You Are On A Tight Budget Like Us It Was Well Worth It To Get Free Ticket.
We Went By Car And I Was Told They Pay 41p A Mile, I Presume Up To A Maximum Of £25p.p.
The Packed Lunch Was Fine For A Freebie But Dont Have Chicken Sandwich Unless You Like Onions As They Have Brown Stewed Onions In!
We Were Put In First Class As That Is The Only Carriage That Has Room For Wheelchair. Apparently If You Are Booking A Proper Ticket There Is Considerable Discount For Disabled Person And Carer And You Go First Class With Three Course Meal.
Rather Be Healthy But Handy To Know If You Are Wheelchair User.
Also If You Are Disabled The Ncp Car Park By Kings Cross Station
Is Free. They Dont Tell You Though, Hubby Took Ticket Up To Pay And Asked If Any Discount For Disabled He Had To Show Blue Badge Then It Was Free. Usually About £25 I Believe.
Hope This Is Of Help To You.
I Was Told By One Member Of Staff At St. Pancras Not To Be Put Off Of Future Travel By Queue's At Passport Control Etc Due To Some Trains Being Late As They Were Being Made To Happen To See How Staff Handled Being Under Pressure During These Trials.

shown73

Amen to the onions in the chicken sandwich, wish I'd taken the egg mayo. All in all though, a good day, a real novelty day out, wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sure, you can niggle about this or that, but there was nothing that was not expected or forewarned about. We sat in a train for over 1/2 hour at one point, but OH had a magazine, and I dozed off, so no problem. The time seemed to pass quite quickly all day, really, and we were finished be 14:30, so off to sample the delights of Covent Garden and Oxford St for a while.
Took a medium size holdall, with all the days paraphenalia in it, and that was quite sufficient. I failed the body scan thingy, and they found my swiss army knife, whch I have on me at all times. One security person looked very stern, but supervisor shrugged it off, but, lesson learned for my trip to Paris, keep it in luggage. It was probably useful for them too, even though I really don't fit the terrorist profile!
Don't expect more than you imagine it will be, just go with open mind, and enjoy, after all, it's mostly paid for and it's a very cheap day out in London with time to do some Christmas shopping, UGH!