Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Geneva from the early 2030s. It says London St Pancras to Geneva could take just over five hours.
While many people say they’ll believe it when they see it, what do you think? Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
More
Eurostar plans direct link between London and Geneva
I enjoy the train over planes...but let's be realistic. Geneve/Zurich round trip by train costs more than a round trip ticket Geneve/London on Easyjet and is quicker as well. Perhaps if we brought in a system like the Chinese with wide coverage and government subsidized tickets going for a reasonable price...but we all know that's not going to happen as long as there's a profit to be made off the European populace.
I would certainly use the train, if I were London-based. However, am not, and the thought of involving London in my journey plans leaves me cold.__So, for the future, it's local regional airport, quick tfr to Schiphol, then onwards to whichever beautiful CH city is my destination!!
Speaking as a frequent Eurostar Lyria user, cutting out Paris makes sense, but the cities served would have to include Basel as well as Geneva (not necessarily Zurich or Lausanne, as these are well connected to the border stations). If I'm not mistaken, it's worth noting that the only high-speed section would be between London and Lille - beyond that it's classic lines. My concerns are that Switzerland will baulk at the cost of providing sterile boarding facilities for the few (in relative terms) passengers, and how the operator will ensure the sterility of the train as it passes relatively slowly through France.
One can never get the advertised EURO59,95 ticket from Paris to London. All tickets are fixed priced and are not cheap. ____Eurostar allow their mid week trains out of hours to travel with low occupancy, rather than offer cheap tickets to fill seats - and thus use the opportunity to provide added value to the public. This demonstrates its management have a fixed mindset, which of course is fostered in any organisation having a monopoly.____One can fly Basel to London for as little as CHF60 if booked in advance. Will they match that price? No.
Train for sure every time but cost should be competitive to flights.
Absolutely agree that other Swiss cities should be included in destinations - at least add Zurich __Then I would be tempted
If I live that long to see it come to fruition, I’ll take the train, because I hate airports.
Action on price difference required. Timing is not that much of a problem and delays often happens. But door to door by train should become a competitive option as well as timing. Behaviour of border agents should be really improved.
Flying is so demeaning - almost like a battery chicken farm - and many victims are scared of the potential dying experience.____So I tried the train from Paris to London. I did that exactly three times: the first time, the only time and never again. It was equally demeaning: the security insult, cramped-allocated seats and noisy people without respect. Plus the scare.____Since the door-to-door travel time is approx the same I must look at the only significant difference: the price.____It’s a question of choosing between bad-expensive and bad-cheap.
Yes 5hours is okay. By flight it will take maybe 2 hrs and 2 hrs to wait in queue.__However I think the main problem is train tickets are VERY expensive compared to air travel.__Fix that and people will take trains again.
Why can't EuroStar do it now? If a European destination is not much longer than flying ( time to get to/from airports from my start/end points, check in and check out times), then I take the train. Much more civilized than cattle truck flights. I can move seats if I am near disrespectful noisy people, which is impossible to do on a flight / in most waiting rooms. Though not on Eurostar - but they at least have a notice not to disturb other passengers. I wish all Swiss public transport had this too. However, Eurostar should go to/from all major Swiss cities, not just Geneva. And be cheap too, even if I can afford the train cost now.
@LynxVegas
And not only that - one carriage could have gym equipment, a small cinema, a restaurant car. But I totally agree that it needs to be affordable. I would prefer a train trip over plane trips.
@LynxVegas
"Why can't EuroStar do it now?”____They need to make a commercial contract with a Swiss company to get into the market. Switzerland is a controlled market.
I often take the train from Basel to London via either Paris Gare de Lyon or l’Est. It’s so much more civilized than flying and doesn’t take that much longer when you factor in the travel to airports, time needed for security etc. This new addition would be much welcomed especially if they can keep the ticket costs down to compatible with British Airways / Swiss Air.
SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@Alotte
I agree. And a drink/meal at Le Train Bleu restaurant at the Gare de Lyon is always good fun.
Yes, but…____- pricing needs to be competitive, considering longer travel times. ____- trains need to be clean and comfortable and NOT overcrowded. ____-seats need to be cushioned with strong lumbar support.
Theoretically yes, but still waiting to see the price difference...
Join the conversation!