How much time to leave for Eurostar

[crucible72]

On Wednesday 4th September, I am travelling to Brussels. The plan is to travel from Exeter to London Waterloo, then catch a tube
service to St Pancras International for the Eurostar. How much time do I need to allow between arriving in Waterloo and catching my Eurostar?
I know if I was changing onto another national rail service, then a delay on my train to Waterloo would mean I could catch the
next available connection, if i missed the one I was booked on, but I'm not sure if this applies with the Eurostar. If I arrive in Waterloo
on the 13:49 for the 15:04 Eurostar, is that enough time?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[jon81uk]

Should be written on the ticket the current suggested arrival time, but getting St Pancras somewhere around 45-90 minutes before should be OK. So latest I’d aim to be at Waterloo is the 90 minutes before Eurostar.

Ticket gates close 30 minutes before departure.

When to arrive at the station | Eurostar

Find all the information on how to check in at our stations: how far in advance, what documents you need, how to use the check-in barriers.

www.eurostar.com

 

[jfollows]

Eurostar says (https://help.eurostar.com/faq/uk-en/question/When-should-I-arrive-for-my-train):

Travelling to and from London

On London routes, we recommend arriving around 90 minutes before your train leaves.

Please ensure that you have enough time to go through all the extra passport and security checks before your train departs.

to which you should add 21 minutes for the cross-London transfer from Waterloo.

Your proposed itinerary is about 50 minutes too short.

If you go for the 30 minute gate closure you’ll probably make it, but personally I’d give it more time.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Are you using a CIV ticket to London International for the Exeter to Waterloo leg?

If so... as long as your schedule meets the 90 + 21 minutes connection time, you'll be able to be rebooked in the next available Eusrostar should you have problems en route between Exeter and Waterloo.

I'd also suggest Exeter to Paddington would be faster, and is also an easier Underground connection ( Paddington { Bishop's Road } to King's Cross St Pancras direct ).

 

[crucible72]

Are you using a CIV ticket to London International for the Exeter to Waterloo leg?

If so... as long as your schedule meets the 90 + 21 minutes connection time, you'll be able to be rebooked in the next available Eusrostar should you have problems en route between Exeter and Waterloo.

I'd also suggest Exeter to Paddington would be faster, and is also an easier Underground connection ( Paddington { Bishop's Road } to King's Cross St Pancras direct ).

I'm using separate tickets for the Exeter to Waterloo leg and the St Pancras to Brussels leg, and I was planning on using contactless for the tube part in the middle. Does that make a difference?

 

[jfollows]

A CIV ticket to Saint Pancras gives you - theoretically - more protection in case of late running, however you would need to leave more time (111 minutes) between booked arrival at Waterloo and Eurostar departure, which you don’t currently. Eurostar tend to be fairly flexible in rebooking late arrivals on later trains, but without a CIV ticket they’re not obliged to.

 

[crucible72]

A CIV ticket to Saint Pancras gives you - theoretically - more protection in case of late running, however you would need to leave more time (111 minutes) between booked arrival at Waterloo and Eurostar departure, which you don’t currently. Eurostar tend to be fairly flexible in rebooking late arrivals on later trains, but without a CIV ticket they’re not obliged to.

Would a CIV ticket be a lot more expensive?

 

[jfollows]

Would a CIV ticket be a lot more expensive?

I don’t know, see https://www.brfares.com/!expert?orig=EXD&dest=LNE&period=20240705

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A CIV ticket to Saint Pancras gives you - theoretically - more protection in case of late running, however you would need to leave more time (111 minutes) between booked arrival at Waterloo and Eurostar departure, which you don’t currently. Eurostar tend to be fairly flexible in rebooking late arrivals on later trains, but without a CIV ticket they’re not obliged to.

Exactly this - and also the CIV will include the Underground.

Looking at the timetables, you're on the 10.25 from Exeter... There's a Paddington one ten minutes earlier which gets to Paddington at 12.29 and that comfortably meets the connection time margins.

 

[crucible72]

Exactly this - and also the CIV will include the Underground.

Looking at the timetables, you're on the 10.25 from Exeter... There's a Paddington one ten minutes earlier which gets to Paddington at 12.29 and that comfortably meets the connection time margins.

Is Paddington to St Pancras 21 minutes to allow again, or is it a bit less?

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

If you're travelling such a distance from Exeter, you'd be foolish not to purchase a CIV through ticket, even if it costs more. It's essentially a ticket with a guaranteed insurance policy.

If you miss your Eurostar because of a problem with SWR or London Underground, it's tough luck otherwise.

 

[crucible72]

If you're travelling such a distance from Exeter, you'd be foolish not to purchase a CIV through ticket, even if it costs more. It's essentially a ticket with a guaranteed insurance policy.

If you miss your Eurostar because of a problem with SWR or London Underground, it's tough luck otherwise.

Where would be the best place to purchase one from? Does this forum's site sell them, or would it be the Eurostar website?

 

[hexagon789]

Where would be the best place to purchase one from? Does this forum's site sell them!>>, or would it be the Eurostar website?

The forums site should sell them (destination is London International (LNE)). Eurostar don't, in fact I don't believe they sell tickets for anything outside their usual 'sphere' of operations nowadays.

 

[30907]

Eurostar says (https://help.eurostar.com/faq/uk-en/question/When-should-I-arrive-for-my-train):

to which you should add 21 minutes for the cross-London transfer from Waterloo.

And 15min for train to tube at Waterloo, surely?

From a comfort point of view I would aim to join the ES queue about an hour before departure, but have the other 30min in hand - especially as missing the 1504 leaves you with a 2-hour wait. I would definitely go an hour earlier, whichever route you use.

 

[jfollows]

And 15min for train to tube at Waterloo, surely?

From a comfort point of view I would aim to join the ES queue about an hour before departure, but have the other 30min in hand - especially as missing the 1504 leaves you with a 2-hour wait. I would definitely go an hour earlier, whichever route you use.

I suspect so about the +15 minutes also, so that’s 126 minutes in total, definitely an hour earlier would be wise.

 

[Haywain]

If you miss your Eurostar because of a problem with SWR or London Underground, it's tough luck otherwise.

Fortunately, Eurostar tend not to take such a harsh approach.

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

Fortunately, Eurostar tend not to take such a harsh approach.

Sure, if you want to rely on complete goodwill and sympathy, to complete an international journey.

However, that seems unwise to say the least, especially when it can be easily mitigated by having the correct ticket that offers contractual protection for this precise scenario.

That discretion (which has largely been shown since ES began operations) is also becoming more challenging in practice, as there are new electronic border procedures and processes behind the scenes that make last minute swaps more complex and involved than ever before.

 

[Haywain]

However, that seems unwise to say the least, especially when it can be easily mitigated by having the correct ticket that offers contractual protection for this precise scenario.

Of course, I would recommend having a CIV ticket but your assertion that not having one would mean "tough luck" isn't how things necessarily happen.

 

[njr001]

You could use the iproov App to bypass the queue you just need to scan you passport and ticket in advance.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Is Paddington to St Pancras 21 minutes to allow again, or is it a bit less?

About 20 minutes sounds about right to me for the journey time - plus of course add the walking time at each end to connect to and from the Underground.

Tip: At Paddington, use the footbridge in the middle of the platform - this is a much shorter way to the Hammersmith and City line station ( the one formerly known as Bishop's Road - this is the one which is direct to King's Cross St Pancras. ) than walking all the way forwards to the main barrier line then back again.

 

[mad_rich]

It's hard to get a straight answer on what the official minimum connecting times are to/ from Eurostar.

I've always assumed that the results generated by Bahn.com will always be a valid connection. They do seem excessively long, but have to be adhered to if you want to be certain that Eurostar will rebook you.

But I also agree with @Haywain, that Eurostar tend to be more forgiving in real life.

The OP's connection is probably doable in reality most days, but doesn't leave much room for error. I might book it if I had no other option, but I'd be prepared for it messing up my afternoon and potentially costing me money!

 

[Tazi Hupefi]

It's hard to get a straight answer on what the official minimum connecting times are to/ from Eurostar.

I've always assumed that the results generated by Bahn.com will always be a valid connection. They do seem excessively long, but have to be adhered to if you want to be certain that Eurostar will rebook you.

But I also agree with @Haywain, that Eurostar tend to be more forgiving in real life.

The OP's connection is probably doable in reality most days, but doesn't leave much room for error. I might book it if I had no other option, but I'd be prepared for it messing up my afternoon and potentially costing me money!

The official (National Rail/CIV times) are a combination of timings:

1. Connection time at the London terminal you arrive plus;
2. 35 minutes


Take an arrival into London Euston, at a random midday.

The minimum connection time is 8 minutes plus 35 minutes.

However, you then have to consider Eurostar's ticket policy (depending on what class/type you hold) which may require more time to check in than the minimum above.

 

[Haywain]

The minimum connection time is 8 minutes plus 35 minute

Wrong. The transfer time between the stations also needs to be taken into account.

 

[Hadders]

Normal connection time between Euston and St Pancras (07:00-19:00) is:

Euston interchange time 15 mins
Transit time 8 mins
St Pancras Interchange time 15 mins
Total 38 mins.

I was then under the impression you had to give an additional 30 mins for Eurostar check-in, giving a total of 68 minutes.

However, London International has a minimum interchange time (according to BRTimes) of 35 minutes which would give:

Euston interchange 15 mins
Transit time 8 mins
London International interchange 35 mins
Total 58 mins

Does anyone know the correct methodology that should be used?

 

[mad_rich]

I guess the second one can’t be right, because if you reverse it (St Pancras International to Euston) you still get 58 minutes. Which is wrong as there’s no check in time (although there still might be an arrival check).

 

[island]

Normal connection time between Euston and St Pancras (07:00-19:00) is:

Euston interchange time 15 mins
Transit time 8 mins
St Pancras Interchange time 15 mins
Total 38 mins.

I was then under the impression you had to give an additional 30 mins for Eurostar check-in, giving a total of 68 minutes.

However, London International has a minimum interchange time (according to BRTimes) of 35 minutes which would give:

Euston interchange 15 mins
Transit time 8 mins
London International interchange 35 mins
Total 58 mins

Does anyone know the correct methodology that should be used?

My understanding is it's the latter – though it's all a little academic anyway.

 

[jon0844]

I would definitely seek to get to St Pancras with plenty of time to spare, but recommend you don't go through to departures until an hour before or less (say 35-45 minutes) as it can be cramped inside and hard to find seats (given how people spread out and block seats with bags etc).

Getting there early means being nice and relaxed, and you can use that time to get some food/drink or just walk around the local area (e.g. Coal Drops Yard) - obviously depending on how much luggage you have.

 

[nwales58]

Normal connection time between Euston and St Pancras (07:00-19:00) is:
...
giving a total of 68 minutes.

However, London International has a minimum interchange time (according to BRTimes) of 35 minutes ...
Total 58 mins

Does anyone know the correct methodology that should be used?

Confusion, because whatever has been fed into the UIC database shown by international planners has a rather longer 80 minutes Euston-St Pancras International and 30 minutes on the way back, which may or may not be the sum of two interchange times without a transit leg.

The OP's Waterloo shows 105 minutes.

Anyone know more, in particular which of these forms the contract on an international ticket or combination of tickets?

 

[30907]

My understanding is it's the latter – though it's all a little academic anyway.

My memory (from my days of using the WCML) is that it was the former (so 68 or possibly 73 min) - the 0940 restriction on CIV tickets into Euston IIRC made the then 1058 Brussels problematic.

 

[AdamWW]

However, that seems unwise to say the least, especially when it can be easily mitigated by having the correct ticket that offers contractual protection for this precise scenario.

Is it easy to buy CIV tickets to London?

That wasn't the impression I'd got from this forum.