Eurostar security delays

[Jonjo]

Just to give everyone a warning a friend texted me last night to warn of long delays going through boarder control and security at Lille yesturday.

French Police and Boarder Security were opening every bag and case to search everything and sniffer dogs were out in force. He was there an 1 hour and 30 mins early due to the time his conecting train arrived from Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy and he needed every minute of it to get through security on time.

He also said there were armed French and British Police patroling the Eurostar and they were both carrying out random passport checks on the train. His passport and tickets were checked twice on the train, so keep your paperwork close at hand.

Upon arrival in London, there was also a delay of an hour at UK Boarder Control at St Pancras International, and he missed his conecting train home, but as he had through Eurostar - Cardiff tickets, Eurostar put him up in a hotel over night and gave him tickets for the first train back to Cardiff from London this morning.

Guess after last weeks tragic events in Paris we are all going to have to get use to longer security check in times on the Eurostar now.

 

[netimka]

we are going indirect tomorrow for the first time so keep your fingers crossed for us everyone, we get there fine... luckily we are staying offside for the first night so should be fine even when arriving on the next train... both times we have less than an hour to change trains all bought from Eurostar including the one to Preston on the way back so got some insurance this way but I must say its going to be an adventure that's for sure....

 

[Anemone]

Fingers crossed all goes well for you Netimka.

 

[lilacgems23]

A little worried, if going in direct and you miss your connecting train at Lille due to these checks, what happens?

 

[Jonjo]

A little worried, if going in direct and you miss your connecting train at Lille due to these checks, what happens?

Eurostar will just put you in the next available train.

They have been known to stop direct Paris to London trains at Lille to pick up passengers who have missed connections, so I would not worry.

 

[Wismgari]

OK I am quite worried now! I am going on my first ever trip tomorrow and my first time on Eurostar too! We are going via Lille, but only have 35 minutes connection on the way out and 30 minutes on the way back (not my choice - they are the times that the website allocated to me). The way out I am not so worried as I assume they will just put me on the next available train. However, on the way back I am on the last Eurostar of the day (and then the last train of the day to Cardiff as well - tickets booked separately). What happens if we miss this last train? Can we leave on an earlier train from the Disney train station to give us more time in Lille or do we have to stay on the allocated trains?

 

[RoseBug]

Does anyone know what the security times are like if flying into to CDG?

Glad they have extra security. Better safe than sorry!