Eurostar adds Lyon & Marseille to proposed list of destinations

[cle]

So there would still be some restrictions about who gets on the train?

I don't think it's been clearly defined - in Schengen I could just walk onto any train on any platform near enough, no checks. A bit like Virgin Trains today for example (with no barriers).

So we either have checks in this scenario or we don't?

The difference with ferries and planes in particular is the checks on departure and no walk-on ability. This implies none of that, so the first encounter would be at STP.

 

[WestCoast]

You can't just walk on Eurostar though, it's like a plane in that all trains are compulsory booking with a name given. Your ticket is checked by Eurostar staff before boarding. There's nothing to say that they couldn't check your passport or EU ID card (for nations that have them) at the same time.

Now, when you fly out of the UK to say, Turkey, no government worker checks your ticket and passport, it's the airline staff who check your passport leaving the UK. The airlines submit advanced passenger information to the Turkish authorities and you are processed on arrival, although admittedly some countries don't even ask for API.

It's different for Schengen, as they have exit controls at airports (for people going outside Schengen), but leaving countries like the UK and USA, no official checks your documents, it's done by airline staff.

 

[cle]

You can't just walk on Eurostar though, it's like a plane in that all trains are compulsory booking with a name given. Your ticket is checked by Eurostar staff before boarding. There's nothing to say that they couldn't check your passport or EU ID card (for nations that have them) at the same time.

This is exactly my point. With destination expansion and the person who started the discussion's points, it would be the same as getting on any old train.

 

[NY Yankee]

As for asylum, well don't forget that anyone arriving by aircraft or ferry is checked on arrival and that constitutes the majority of people arriving in the country. Under law, a claim can be lodged at the immigration desk. Anyone arriving in the UK by train is almost certainly an economic migrant anyway, since EU law states that you must submit a claim in the first EU country entered - you can't pick and choose!

I assume that countries like the UK and France are more popular than Greece and Poland. Everyone wants to come to the UK since there's a high quality of life and socialism. Unfortunately, the UK can't accommodate every single refugee from Africa or the Indian subcontinent.

 

[Eagle]

Everyone wants to come to the UK since there's a high quality of life and socialism.

Hah. The UK is one of the least socialist countries in the EU.

 

[ainsworth74]

Everyone wants to come to the UK since there's a high quality of life and socialism.

Socialist compared to the US perhaps but we definitely aren't a socialist country (and you'd do well to ignore any media or politicians over there that say different).

 

[WestCoast]

I assume that countries like the UK and France are more popular than Greece and Poland. Everyone wants to come to the UK since there's a high quality of life and socialism. Unfortunately, the UK can't accommodate every single refugee from Africa or the Indian subcontinent.

I suppose the UK and France are more popular because they are well known in many parts of the developing world due to former colonies and people know of acquaintances, family and/or friends that now live in these countries. There may also be language and cultural connections. The UK also has a good standard of accommodation (during the claim) and welfare payments for asylum seekers, which isn't as easy to get in other countries (including France).

However, if I was in their position, the UK wouldn't be my first choice for many reasons.

*Goodness, what a thread drift!*

 

[brianthegiant]

Well how much damage did the July 2005 bombs do to the tunnels of the tube? I'd guess it would have to be one hell of a charge to do any real damage, explosions like to take the path of least resistance which would be to travel along the tunnel not punch through it. I'm not saying the tunnel would be undamaged but I wouldn't expect significant damage (unless you're setting off a really big bomb).

The thing about planting a bomb in central London is:
1) there are millions of people there so its easy to blend in.
2) there are hundreds of journalists within a few miles so footage of your attack are instantly on all the news channels.

seems to me that passports on arrival with security checks on departure (as works fine for aviation) is the only long term solution. Otherwise E* presumably have to pay for staffing of borders agency posts all over Europe, as the number of destinations expands rapidly in the next few years.
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Everyone wants to come to the UK since there's a high quality of life and socialism.

Socialism????

correct me if I'm wrong....but the fundamental principle of socialism is
"From each according to their ability to each according to their need"

On that basis, I can assure you Mr Yankee, we dont have socialism in the UK, as you can verify if you look around kensington & knightsbridge, with its multi-million pound apartments for the super rich, who come here for the tax-loopholes.

I would struggle to think of many countries internationally which come anywhere close to socialism in terms of wealth redistribution, maybe Venezuela & Cuba. But then theres the human rights issues...