Eurostar and the virus

[Gadget88]

These face shields are accepted on LNER now it seems but Eurostar still refusing. Any ideas when they will be more flexible? I suffer panic attacks and explained to them I can’t wear a cloth mask?

 

[Gadget88]

Also the French trains also refused me service with this face shield despite NHS and Farmfoods using them

 

[Domh245]

Also the French trains also refused me service with this face shield despite NHS and Farmfoods using them

In those cases (NHS & Farmfoods) they are there to protect the wearer. The rationale behind compulsory mask wearing is to protect other passengers from unintentional spread of the virus, for which those style face masks are considerably less effective than other close fitting types.

 

[Gadget88]

In those cases (NHS & Farmfoods) they are there to protect the wearer. The rationale behind compulsory mask wearing is to protect other passengers from unintentional spread of the virus, for which those style face masks are considerably less effective than other close fitting types.

Yes but LNER will allow me to wear one not a cloth one but Eurostar won’t how can this be the case?

 

[221129]

Yes but LNER will allow me to wear one not a cloth one but Eurostar won’t how can this be the case?

From Monday you'll need a face covering so you'll need more than just the visor in the UK too.

 

[Gadget88]

From Monday you'll need a face covering so you'll need more than just the visor in the UK too.

No that’s not true becuase LNER told me a visor is fine

“No, that is fine to wear as it if a Face Covering. ^SH”

I attached the above photo of a visor no face mask.

 

[Chester1]

Yes but LNER will allow me to wear one not a cloth one but Eurostar won’t how can this be the case?

Eurostar has to answer to the French and Belgium governments in addition to the UK government. I don't know if the guide lines are different in France or Belgium but it might explain the difference.

 

[Gadget88]

I am still fighting this mask issue where can I reach out to the French government about this as it’s discrimination for people with anxiety? The UK has shown compassion yet France none atall?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I am still fighting this mask issue where can I reach out to the French government about this as it’s discrimination for people with anxiety? The UK has shown compassion yet France none atall?

I would suggest contacting the French embassy in London. There is an e-address on their website.

 

[Gadget88]

I would suggest contacting the French embassy in London. There is an e-address on their website.

Thanks I did get a reply before but wasn’t too helpful I will keep fighting this as I fear it will go on all year if not longer. I have contacted them again

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Thanks I did get a reply before but wasn’t too helpful I will keep fighting this as I fear it will go on all year if not longer. I have contacted them again

French bureaucracy is legendary...

 

[Gadget88]

Looked into it if I was to fly British airways I wouldn’t need to wear a mask a doctors note is fine. So there we have it Eurostar making up rules as they go.

I hate flying but I’m keen for a holiday later in the year I may have to fly.

 

[kristiang85]

I've got a Eurostar booking to Belgium in August (booked in February), and have had no communication on it so far, and looking at 'manage my booking' it seems to be as normal. But obvioulsy right now services are still very limited. Hopefully it will go ahead still, but what kind of notice will I get of any changes do you think?

 

[joncombe]

I've got a Eurostar booking to Belgium in August (booked in February), and have had no communication on it so far, and looking at 'manage my booking' it seems to be as normal. But obvioulsy right now services are still very limited. Hopefully it will go ahead still, but what kind of notice will I get of any changes do you think?

Probably none at all. I had a booking cancelled for May. I was never emailed about it at all, just checked the day before and the trains I was booked on were not running, but they were then only publishing the list of trains to run (and it was a very short list - just one a day) the day before travel.

 

[kristiang85]

Probably none at all. I had a booking cancelled for May. I was never emailed about it at all, just checked the day before and the trains I was booked on were not running, but they were then only publishing the list of trains to run (and it was a very short list - just one a day) the day before travel.

OK thanks for the insight. So I will just keep checking then.

 

[jellybaby]

I've got a Eurostar booking to Belgium in August (booked in February), and have had no communication on it so far, and looking at 'manage my booking' it seems to be as normal. But obvioulsy right now services are still very limited. Hopefully it will go ahead still, but what kind of notice will I get of any changes do you think?

I had a booking for Friday June 12. They emailed me on Tuesday June 9th to say it was cancelled (and the same gap for the return trip).

 

[Jamesrob637]

Is it still just one per day to Paris and Bruxelles, nothing to anywhere else on the network, with the next tangible change occurring on Monday the 6th of July?

 

[kristiang85]

I had a booking for Friday June 12. They emailed me on Tuesday June 9th to say it was cancelled (and the same gap for the return trip).

That must be extremely irritating! I will be quite miffed if I look forward to a trip all summer only to be canclled 3 days in advance. At least airlines have been notifying me of my other trips being cancelled many weeks in advance.

 

[joncombe]

Just had notification from Eurostar that my booking on the London - Marseilles train is cancelled because they are no longer running this service this year OR for 2021 either (the latter did surprise me). I'm not surprised it's not running this year but I am surprised they clearly think it's unviable for next summer too. I think it's a real shame and I hope it does come back at some point in the future.

This is what the email says

We’re really sorry to tell you that we’ll no longer be running our direct summer trains to Lyon and the South of France for the rest of 2020 and 2021. This was a hard decision for us to make and one we made with a heavy heart.

Boarding this train marked the beginning of an eagerly anticipated summer holiday for many of our passengers and the atmosphere on the way was always a very special one. We appreciate that this news will be disappointing as you have a booking on this route in the near future.

 

[ryanstait24@gm]

Is it still just one per day to Paris and Bruxelles, nothing to anywhere else on the network, with the next tangible change occurring on Monday the 6th of July?

Out of interest why would there be a change on 6th July? I hope there is because we're currently booked on the 11.04 to Brussels on the 25th which doesn't currently run. It can still be booked though which makes me a bit optimistic

 

[Gadget88]

After fighting my case with MP’s and taking solicitors advice I contacted the Eurostar CEO Mike Cooper and explained my situation they said those with hidden disabilities may not have to wear a mask. My worry is if staff will realise this on the day and I may also have issues if I went on TGV as I don’t speak French? I could print the email out possibly? I was considering a trip to Lille as that would involve only one hour on a train? What are the French rules about wearing masks in shops or food outlets like Burger King?

 

[Gadget88]

I am having difficulties with Thalys trains however they seem to be saying no exemptions even those with hidden disabilities..

 

[Bletchleyite]

I am having difficulties with Thalys trains however they seem to be saying no exemptions even those with hidden disabilities..

As has been said, it's French law. They have not made any exceptions in law, so transport operators are not in a position to do otherwise.

 

[Gadget88]

As has been said, it's French law. They have not made any exceptions in law, so transport operators are not in a position to do otherwise.

SNFC will allow face visors but THALYS won’t so I don’t believe that for one minute. They are making it up as they go

 

[Gadget88]

So eurostar will allow no masks for me but my worry is when I reach France or Belgium they try and impose a fine hopefully the email from CEO of Eurostar will prevent any problems the issue is i don’t speak a word of French

Do they have face mask rules in shops or railway stations in France or Belgium?

 

[johnnychips]

After fighting my case with MP’s and taking solicitors advice I contacted the Eurostar CEO Mike Cooper and explained my situation they said those with hidden disabilities may not have to wear a mask. My worry is if staff will realise this on the day and I may also have issues if I went on TGV as I don’t speak French? I could print the email out possibly? I was considering a trip to Lille as that would involve only one hour on a train? What are the French rules about wearing masks in shops or food outlets like Burger King?

You could put it through Google Translate into French and Dutch. It is a lot more accurate than it used to be. If you go to Belgium most people in Brussels and Flanders speak good English anyway. I do believe you have to wear masks on any public transport in Belgium, but I have no idea how strictly this is enforced.

 

[Gadget88]

You could put it through Google Translate into French and Dutch. It is a lot more accurate than it used to be. If you go to Belgium most people in Brussels and Flanders speak good English anyway. I do believe you have to wear masks on any public transport in Belgium, but I have no idea how strictly this is enforced.

Yes they said I can wear a face visor on the metro I contacted department for disease control. Eurostar have accepted the Sunflower cards for hidden disabilities too so no mask required. I wanted a trip to Lille as everything is central and I don’t have to use much transport.

 

[johnnychips]

Good, I’m glad you have got it sorted. Have a good trip.

 

[Gadget88]

Good, I’m glad you have got it sorted. Have a good trip.

Thanks I googled about face masks and it says France makes you wear them even in public is this true? Or shopping malls?

I know this is not the case in Brussels.

 

[duncanp]

Out of interest why would there be a change on 6th July? I hope there is because we're currently booked on the 11.04 to Brussels on the 25th which doesn't currently run. It can still be booked though which makes me a bit optimistic

"Government sources" have said today that the blanket restriction on non essential foreign travel is to be lifted from 6th July, and Eurostar's own website says that from 8th July they will start serving Lille Europe, Calas Frethun, Ashford and Ebbsfleet again.

I can't help thinking that Eurostar were given advance warning of this by the government.