I’m going to be traveling to paris this weekend by Eurostar. I’ve recently had my first contact with them as an organisation and the experience has left me distinctly underwhelmed. I only hope the actual journey doesn’t pass in the same manner.
The tunnel seemed like a really good idea, but Eurostar just seems like another step too far for the UK. Every person I’ve talked with at the Waterloo terminal (in London) has been french, rude and extremely unhelpful! I’m not saying that any of thsoe things are naturally related, but the absence of native english people was noticeable.
Yes they are bloody rude as i always have problems with the chef de board (train manager to you and I). All the nice people i have met who work for eurostar are english, at least the english are not on strike every 5mins, as it seems with the French. You may think I am being over zealous, but you spend 3months working in Paris at Gare Du Nord and you will agree with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes you are right… In London there is no so many strikes, but try to go from Clapham Junction to Streatham Hill and you will see that almost every evening, the service stops at Balham and you have to wait quite a long for a replacement bus.
And no excuse from the staff. Without saying that the price of your transport is one of the most (if not the most) expensive in Europe. At least, parisian transport is cheap if you compare.
You were maybe unlucky and meet french staff who were rude but don’t make it a generality.
We, french people are maybe rude (in fact spontaneous and direct), but at least we are not snob and we do not need to get drunk to be able to laugh and be friendly.
I always tell some of my french friends not to speak bad about english people, that everybody is not the same and that not every english are cold, arrogant and alcoholic. But I see the same racism from some of you.
Being half French, spending equal part of my life in France as Wales..alot of my French family cant except some of our (British) ‘habbits’ as alot of my British family cannot with the French, the truth is some people have to be abit more open minded and accepting in peoples ways of expressing themselves. Or atleast not generalise.
I would actually love to work for eurostar and have been looking into how you apply for a job for this, has anyone any ideas?
I’ve worked on the Eurostar train few years back. What u must understand is that there are 3 different crews working for Eurostar: British, French, Belgian. U don’t really know which one u r bumping into as Brits can be working on the French crew based in Paris and vice versa. Only from inside the company u know which train and which rake is served by which crew. There is a regular pattern obviously, but as u have mentionned, lots of striking in France and can lead to last-minute organization to get the train to depart.
I’m not a European citizen but I’ve lived in Paris, London, and Brussels. I do understand ur comments about the French and the Brits. I personally find that ppl from all 3 nationalities are nice ppl in their own ways. Maybe it’s because I speak French, English, and Flemish fluently, and I could get along very well w all ppl that I don’t find anyone particularly more snobbish or rude than another. In all parts of the world, there are bad and nice ppl.
If you want to work for Eurostar (as catering service on board), you must apply w Momentum services Ltd. Their office used to be at Waterloo terminal, in front of Barclays bank. If you want to work as train manager, u must apply directly w Eurostar Ltd. Train manager and chef de bord IS NOT the same. If u want to become a purser or duty on board manager, see w Momentum. Good luck!
i paid gbp 275 for 2 tickets calais to ashford in june 2007. when we boarded there were people in our seats….yes they had tickets too….and other people who boarded at calais found eurostar had also issued tickets for their seats previously and somewhere else.
eurostar said was a problem between paris,brussels and london and offered a paltry gbp 20 voucher for later use.
at least if you fly you know you will not be standing in the aisles!.
anyone else have this problem?
any suggestions on what can be done?
they do not care…no wonder they have had financial problems
Eurostar have have moved from Waterloo to St. Pancras. I have travelled 3 times by train to France in 1999 from Waterloo and recently St Pancras and Ebbsfleet International. St. Pancras is better connected to other main lines and routes to Gatwick and Heathrow Airport. The revamped St Pancras station has a grand interior, there is a champagne bar, new shops and lots to do. Since the opening of the new line (even though fire in the tunnel in 2008 set them back) they have reported posetive profits and reduce carbon in flights. They have also introduced a student fare so if you are below 25 good news!
The new line only has 1 of the original stations remaining at Ashford International and three new stations St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International and Stratford International (Open Olympics?).
I am looking forward to the Olympics here in London and have friends coming on the train from France.
PS did you enjoy your trip finally and have you been since?
Take care Sammy x