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On the straight and narrow
Expanding rail services across Europe offer an increasing
number of choices to passengers travelling to both
ocean and river points of embarkation Picture source: Rail Europe.
the first 300 kmph (187
You might not expect cruise passengers to be the first mph) line nearly 30 years
to “go green” when joining their ships, but many
ago. Germany, Italy, Spain
and Switzerland have also
people are now deciding to go by rail rather than fly,
made major advances.
and the growing European high-speed network
As the table provided by
Rail Europe shows,
makes this more feasible. Report by Dave Richardson
passengers can reach Nice,
Cannes or Monaco in 8-9
hours from London. Going
I
N the days before November 2007 Eurostar With a simple change at by rail means none of the
mass air travel many has operated over our first Lille in northern France, extra luggage costs or
sea voyages started purpose-built high-speed passengers can travel restrictions of going by air,
with a train trip to line from London to the directly to the south of but they have to handle their
the port, and the Channel Tunnel, cutting France including the cruise own luggage. Changing at
launch of luxury charter journey times to 2h 15m ports of Nice and Cannes. Lille rather than Paris may
train the Ocean Liner to Paris (19 trains a day) But as fewer trains stop at take at least an hour longer,
Express has brought back and 1h 51m to Brussels Lille and they need to take but the change is simple.
that grand era for Cunard (10 trains). an early 06.59 departure To join cruise ships in
passengers departing from Eurostar operates from from London, passengers Italy, Spain, Portugal,
Southampton. the beautifully refurbished would usually find it quicker Copenhagen or Stockholm,
But with most European St Pancras International to change at Paris and take a rail specialists recommend
cruises departing from station in London, and taxi between terminals. overnight sleeper trains from
Mediterranean or Baltic through fares are now Changing at Brussels is Paris or Brussels which get
ports, passengers will still available on connecting simpler, for onward travel to there in good time for
face a long journey if they trains from over 140 towns the Netherlands or embarkation in the
decide to go by rail. This is and cities across Britain to Germany. The long delayed afternoon.
only really an option if they more than 100 destinations high-speed line from More attractive rail
don’t want to fly or are in France, Belgium, the Brussels to Amsterdam is journey times are available
building a cruise into a Netherlands and Germany. expected to open in 2010, to river ports, such as five
longer holiday, or joining a Some services also stop at but travellers can already hours to Lyon and 6h 19m
river cruise. Ebbsfleet International (for use high-speed trains into to Basel.
Then rail becomes an the M25) and Ashford in Germany including the river Most agents book through
attractive option, so let’s get Kent, and seasonal through port of Cologne. a rail specialist such as
up to date with how Britain trains operate to Avignon in France has the most Rail Europe which pays
has joined the European summer and the French advanced high-speed system commission (see inform-
high-speed network. Since Alps in winter. in Europe, having opened ation box), and book any
SUMMER 2009 | ITINERARY PLANNING | SHORE PROGRAMMES | PASSENGER HANDLING |
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