aec-europe.org.uk

There is a saying that the only way to discover the real India is by taking a train journey.

For decades, many adventurous tourists have used this option – travelling on crowded, non-air conditioned carriages often with wooden seats, at a steady pace through the Indian countryside.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/6287152.stm

–Sales of £518 million – up 11% on 2005
–7.85 million travellers carried – up over 5%
–17% year-on-year increase in business traveller numbers
–Punctuality reaches 91.5% – up from 86.3% in 2005

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train service that links the UK with France and Belgium, saw record sales and traveller numbers in 2006 as it attracted thousands more travellers from the airlines. Sales topped half a billion pounds for the first time, rising 11.7% from £463.8 million to £518.3 million.

In total 7.85 million travellers chose Eurostar in 2006, up 5.4 % on 2005. Leisure traveller numbers rose by 4.5%, while the largest increase was in business traveller numbers, rising over 17% and generating an 18% increase in business sales revenue.

Eurostar continues to see strong year-on-year growth. It is now carrying 28% more travellers than in the 12 months before the opening in September 2003 of the first section of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, now named High Speed 1.

Increased security at airports since the summer and foggy weather in the UK before Christmas meant that thousands of passengers switched from the airlines to Eurostar. Many of these travellers were using Eurostar for the first time and it is estimated that 1000 business customers a week have now permanently transferred from flying to high-speed rail.

Eurostar benefited from its global partnership with The Da Vinci Code blockbuster film that is set in London and Paris, encouraging tourism to both capital cities. The partnership was largely responsible for a 10.6% increase in international sales.

Punctuality in 2006 was a record 91.5%, far outstripping airline competitors on the London – Paris and London – Brussels routes. Latest figures from the Civil Aviation Authority show that punctuality at London’s airports remains around 70%, as in previous years.

Richard Brown, Chief Executive, Eurostar, said:

“These are record results on sales, traveller numbers and punctuality. I am delighted at the strong growth in the number of business travellers, who are discovering the punctuality and productivity advantages that Eurostar offers compared with the experience of flying. Many more travellers are being attracted by the environmental benefits of using high-speed rail instead of short-haul air.

“We are increasing traveller numbers both in and beyond our three core countries. We are making good progress in attracting more travellers from across Western Europe, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany, where travellers are discovering that international connections are easier than they imagined. I am also pleased that our international sales continue to increase. The US is our principal market, whilst sales from Asia-Pacific are growing strongly.

“We expect 2007 to be another good year, with events such as the Tour de France in July and the Rugby World Cup in the autumn already generating strong demand in the groups market.”

The move from Waterloo International and the launch of services from St Pancras International on 14 November 2007 will make journeys between the UK, France and Belgium even quicker and open up Eurostar to millions of new travellers. Eurostar will minimise disruption by moving overnight, in the biggest change in the company’s history.

Eurostar will also open a new parkway station at Ebbsfleet International, just off Junction 2 of the M25, near Bluewater shopping centre and Dartford in north Kent. This station will serve a catchment of over 10 million people and, together with Ashford International, will lead to a 45% increase in Eurostar services serving Kent.

Press Release

The Deutsche Bahn UK booking centre at Surbiton is to deal with privilege tickets and reservation requests from 1 October. More here – http://www.atoc.org/rst/Updates_&_Reminders.asp

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Eurostar (UK) Limited have announced that as a special promotion, lower fares than the usual FIP concessionary rates are available from 4 July 2006 to 31 August 2006 inclusive (except for those departing London, Paris and Bruxelles on Fridays between 17.30 and 19.00hrs). The company points out that this offer is subject to very limited availability, especially on the Paris route and we would advise early booking.

The fares are shown as follows:

London/Ashford to All Destinations – First Class £25 (£50 Return)
London/Ashford to Paris and Marne-la-Vallee – STD Class £12 (£24 Return)
London/Ashford to Bruxelles / Lille / Calais STD Class £10 (£20 Return)

Bookings should be made in the usual way. If after bookings have been made an individual’s travel plans change, it is possible to transfer a booking to another service or obtain a refund as long as this is organised before the departure of the originally booked service. No refunds or exchanges can be allowed on Eurostar tickets booked before this offer was announced.

PRIVILEGE TICKETS ON OYSTER ‘PAY AS YOU GO’

From 3 July 2006, active and retired safeguarded staff and their dependants who hold a valid Staff Travel Card (STC) will be afforded the option of participating at privilege rates (on London Underground [LU], Docklands Light Railway [DLR] and National Rail services which accept Oyster pay as you go) in the ‘Pay as you go’ Oyster arrangement. As staff may know, the Oyster concept enables travellers to pay for travel in advance by the addition of value to a smart card.

The existing arrangements whereby LU/DLR privilege tickets for individual journeys can be purchased before travel at LU Booking Offices will remain.

The ‘Pay as you go’ Oyster arrangement is for leisure use only. Those who travel on LU services to get to and from work (or dependants who travel to an educational establishment) will still need to purchase an appropriate Privilege Season Ticket. (Remember: Travelcard Seasons are NOT available at privilege discount rates)

Transport for London is extending ‘Pay as you go’ Oyster to staff to make it more convenient for those who make regular LU/DLR trips. The benefits are two-fold; travel is cheaper (being based on the public Oyster single fares which are cheaper than cash fares) and the need to regularly queue at Booking Offices is eliminated.

Those wishing to make use of privilege ‘Pay as you go’ Oyster will need to register their STC at a LU Booking Office using a new form which has been introduced. There are two forms, one subtitled ‘National Rail Employees’ (RSTL 5001) for active staff and their dependants and another subtitled ‘NR Retired Employees’ (RSTL 5002) for retired staff and their dependants. These forms can be downloaded from the RSTL web site www.atoc.org/rst/Application_Forms.asp

On completion, the form needs to be authorised by the applicant’s employing company (Pensions Management in the case of the vast majority of Retired Staff and their dependants) and then taken to a LU Booking Office for the Oyster card to be issued.

RETIRED OYSTER APPLICATION.pdf

Details of the arrangement are contained on the form but the following important points are highlighted:

• As well as the value applicants wish to put on their card, it is necessary for them to pay a refundable £3 deposit.
• The STC supports the use of the Oyster card and as such when the holder is issued with a new STC (at renewal time or if a replacement is issued for any reason), it is necessary for the TfL system that controls Oyster issues to be made aware of the number of the new card. This update must be undertaken by the applicant and can be performed at any LU Booking Office. Until this has been done, travellers are not permitted to use their Oyster card.
• When using the Oyster card, travellers must carry with them their supporting STC at all times
• The Oyster card can be used on London Buses but the amount deducted from the card for each trip will be at the public rate applicable at the time of travel.
• Daily price capping applies. This means that irrespective of the number of LU and/or DLR journeys made on any one day, the most that Privilege Oyster card holders will pay is capped at the Privilege Day Ticket rate. Within Travelcard Zones 1-6 this is currently £2.00 (adult), £1.00 (child)
• It is a requirement that for each journey the Oyster card is ‘touched in’ at the special Oyster reading points at the commencement station and ‘touched out’ at the destination. Failure to do this may result in travellers paying more than they need or may result in a Penalty Fare being charged
• Under 16s must have a Child, Under 14 or 14-15 Oyster photocard to qualify for privilege travel at Child rate. Application forms are available at all Post Offices in the Greater London area. More information, including how to obtain a Child Oyster photocard if applicants do not live in the Greater London area, is available at:www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/fares-tickets/2006/photocards/under16.asp
• If the Oyster card is lost travellers must contact the Oyster helpline on 0845 330 9876 to have the card stopped and any money returned to them. They can apply for a new Oyster card with privilege discount by completing another application form as above.
• Value can be added to Oyster cards by all the usual topping-up payment methods at all LU Booking Offices. Cards can also be topped-up on-line at: www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster
• This website also contains some very useful information about the Oyster card concept, including a list National Rail routes on which pay as you go can be used.

There is another Eurostar FIP promotion from 21st February until 9th April 2006.
Fares are as follows:

First Class:
Paris, Marne, Lille, Brussels: £25 single, £50 return.

Second Class:
Paris, Marne: £12 single, £24 return.
Lille, Brussels: £10 single, £20 return.

Availability is limited