7.4 Eurostar through ticketing
7.4.1 Categories of National Rail add-ons to Eurostar tickets and how to purchase them
There are two categories of these tickets: those to or from London International / Ashford International (Route: Not London CIV) (tickets to and from the latter are only available to or from certain destinations in South-East England) and those to or from London Estar (CIV).
Tickets to or from London International (CIV) / Ashford International (CIV) can be purchased from any station booking office or from
Raileasy (with a booking fee).
Tickets to or from London Estar (CIV) are only available from two sales points. They can be bought by telephone from Eurostar Domestic Sales (01233 617913, Railcard discounts available, tickets generally sent out by post free of charge). Alternatively they can be bought as part of a through ticket purchase between National Rail (British) stations and Continental stations bought from Eurostar UK (
www.eurostar.com – only the UK site, no Railcard discounts available, you will need to collect your National Rail tickets from a TVM separately to printing or collecting your Eurostar tickets). They may only be used in conjunction with a Eurostar ticket. Raileasy also sells through tickets between Continental and National Rail stations. Tickets to or from London Estar (CIV) are only available to/from selected National Rail stations.
Any ticket which includes travel on Eurostar (e.g. DB’s London-Spezial tickets) gives entitlement to all appropriate CIV fares.
CIV tickets fall into one of three categories: Advance, Euro High Saver (Off-Peak i.e. walk-up ticket with restrictions) or Euro Standard (Anytime i.e. walk-up ticket with no restrictions).
7.4.2 Prices, restrictions and availability of the two categories
London International (CIV), London Estar (CIV) and London Terminals fares can differ significantly in terms of price, High Saver restrictions and Advance availability. London Estar (CIV) tickets tend to offer better value for money than London International (CIV) tickets. For example:
- there are no Advances between Bristol Temple Meads and London International (CIV) but there are Advances between Bristol Temple Meads and London Estar (CIV) and of course Bristol Temple Meads and London Terminals. However, the price and availability of these Advances differs significantly.
- the fares for York – London International (CIV) and London Estar (CIV) are identical but there is often availability at lower tiers of Advance fares for the London Estar (CIV) tickets which is not available for the London International (CIV) tickets.
- a Euro High Saver (equivalent of Off-Peak for CIV tickets) Return from Cambridge to London International (CIV) is £30.50 while a Euro Standard Single is £21.20 (no Euro High Saver Single available) and a Euro Standard Return is £42.20. The Euro High Saver Single and Euro Standard Single between Cambridge and London Estar (CIV) are £6.00 and £10.00 respectively.
Whereas London Estar (CIV) fares are only sold as singles, London International (CIV) fares also include walk-up returns to or from destinations in the south of England. However, London Estar (CIV) walk-up fares are usually still cheaper than London International (CIV) walk-up fares when making a return journey.