Non-direct train?

[Joanne_in_London]

Hi
We couldn't get a direct train so we have to change at Lille - can anyone tell me whether this is an easy process, bearing in mind we will have a buggy and 2 young kids to cope with etc - we have almost an hour between trains also, is there anything to do in that time?.
We go on 16th Feb
Thanks!
Jo x

 

[kevankiki]

We have done this, in both directions, but not on the same trip (if that makes sense?).

Easter 2007 we changed on the return journey, it was okay apart from the fact that there were people sitting in our seats, they did move when we showed them our tickets though.

An hour between trains might seem like a long time, but it isn't, as you have to check in for the Eurostar about half an hour before it leaves anyway. We just about had enough time to buy baguettes from the station shop, and that was all really.

We also changed on the outward journey on our last trip. The Eurostar was delayed, as for some reason the transition through the tunnel seemed to take a long time, far longer than the usual 20 minutes. As a result of this we arrived with only about 10 minutes to spare for our transfer at Lille Europe. I wondered if we would make the train, and if our ticket would be honoured on a later train, but I needn’t have worried as the TGV was waiting right next to where we got off, we simply walked across the platform and got on!

I would say that the outward journey was better than the homeward one, others may report a different experience though.

 

[Joanne_in_London]

Thanks so much, really helpful, we are non direct noth there and back, so fingers crossed its delay free! x