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Seat Reservation Issue Paris to London December 2024

  • 26 November 2023
  • 19 replies
  • 167 views
G

HI 

I am trying to book a train from Paris to London on 28th December 2023, I have acquired the Global Pass… However, no seats seem to be available and as it says, seat reservation is mandatory. 

Someone please help me out!!!

Thanks in advance 

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Best answer by rvdborgt 26 November 2023, 19:35

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R
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There are no pass holder seats anymore. There is still availability from Lille to London, but only in 1st class:

Paris-Lille is no problem.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
T
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You’d have to exchange your pass to a 1st class one : price difference + 15€ fee.

Alternatives :

Option 1 :

  • TGV Paris-Nord - Lille-Flandres 10:14 - 11:18 10€ reservation (or 38€ ticket and you save a pass day)
  • Flixbus Lille - London 12:45 - 18:15 40€ ticket

Option 2 :

  • TER Paris St-Lazare - Rouen-Rive-Droite 10:40 - 12:01
  • TER Rouen-Rive-Droite - Dieppe 12:10 - 12:59 or stop for a bit and take the 13:32 - 14:32 train
  • allow time for check-in and passport controls
  • DFDS ferry Dieppe - Newhaven 18:00 - 21:25 39€ ticket
  • Newhaven Town - Lewes 22:01 - 22:12
  • Lewes - London Victoria 22:25 - 23:39

Option 3 :

  • TER Paris-Nord - Calais Ville 10:27 - 13:23
  • 35 min walk or free bus to the harbour
  • P&O ferry Calais - Dover 15:50 - 16:25 30£
  • taxi to the train station
  • Dover Priory - London St. Pancras 17:48 - 18:54

The Channel crossing is a really popular route and a big bottleneck as you can see.

Questions welcome.

G

thank you for the prompt responses

@rvdborgt WHICH WEBSITE ARE YOU CHECKING THE TRAINS ON?

is it eurial.com or b-europe?

G

also, is there any other route available which is quicker than lille?

Paris - to another city - London via train? 

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This is via b-europe:

https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish

There is no quicker way to get to London. Lille is on the line between Paris and London but the trains Paris-London don't stop there.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
T
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Yes he’s using https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish

You can better check availability there.

No, there’s no other route. Trains stopping at Lille come from Brussels but there’s no point in going there.

EDIT : in my opinion the best option is to get a 1st class pass as you can benefit from the extra costs during your entire trip. Second best is Flixbus.

Of course book ASAP whichever option you choose.

G

Okay another issue is popping up.. (please note I have a 2nd class pass)

 

Paris -  Lille has only evening direct train options 

and 

Lille - London has no train options 

 

please check the screenshots I have attached below 

thanks 

 

T
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Yes there’s something weird going on with Paris - Lille : neither eurail.com nor B-Europe (other link) show all trains while SNCF (the operator) offers plenty of cheap trains. Do you know what could be the cause @rvdborgt ? Missing data to MERITS ?

What do you see between Lille and London ? No availability (as expected) or no trains at all (which would be weird) ?

G

Lille to London has no train available until 30th dec 

Please check and confirm the same?? 

R
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I see the below trains from Paris to Lille. Please remember to use "Lille” rather than Lille Flandres or Lille Europe. TGVs from Paris sometimes use one and sometimes the other.

 

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
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Lille - London doesn’t have 2nd class (30€) availability until 30th December, that’s right. But there are 1st class reservations (38€) on 28th and 29th December.

You must exchange your pass to a 1st class pass to travel in 1st class (no single upgrades available). Then you’ll benefit from 1st class throughout your trip.

G

please tell me which Lille to select 

pfa screenshot 

 

G

please send the link from where you are checking the trains 

@rvdborgt 

R
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For domestic journeys in France, I use:

https://travel.b-europe.com/Eurail-GE/en/booking-tgv#TravelWish

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
T
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I see the below trains from Paris to Lille. Please remember to use "Lille” rather than Lille Flandres or Lille Europe. TGVs from Paris sometimes use one and sometimes the other.

Weird : I must select Paris-Nord to Lille-Flandres to see those trains : both to Lille-Flandres and Lille-Europe. All other combinations only show Lille-Europe trains (that day only).

And then I see 4 Paris-Nord - Lille-Europe trains on 29th morning...

 

G

okay 

got the options for Paris - lille 

 

pleas guide me for lille - London train 

I want to arrive in London by 3-5pm max if possible 

T
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T
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okay 

got the options for Paris - lille 

 

pleas guide me for lille - London train 

I want to arrive in London by 3-5pm max if possible 

This will not work I’m afraid. Eurostar trains (available in 1st class only) leave at 18:35 (arrival 18:57, 1h time difference) or 21:35 (arrival 21:57). You can buy the reservations right now but you must’ve exchanged your pass until that date : price difference + 15€ fee. Which pass did you buy ?

If you really wish to arrive earlier take a Flixbus from Lille : 12:15 - 18:10. 40€ ticket but you don’t have to exchange your pass in that case.

By any chance are you crossing the Channel later during your trip ?

G

thank you so much for all your help… 

we are taking a flight as that seems to be the best option now 

 

 

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