London International (CIV) fares

[dvboy]

In April a group of 3 of us are travelling to Frankfurt, out by plane and return by ICE and Eurostar. We are using a 'London Spezial' ticket at €49 each to get back to London arriving 19:57.

We then need to get back to Birmingham, so obviously it would be advantageous to buy tickets from London International (CIV).

Does anyone have the fares available for this?

Or can anyone point me to a website where I can book the through journey from Frankfurt to Birmingham?

 

[benk1342]

Route: + Any permitted
EFS: £127.00 (1st single)
EOS: £79.00 (std single)
EVS: £23.50 (high saver single; though no restrictions are actually listed)

There are also advances for as little as (theoretically) £7.50.

 

[button_boxer]

When using a London Spezial I've always booked my connecting tickets by phoning Eurostar domestic sales on 01233 617913, and they've often offered me cheaper advance fares than were available for the same UK journey.

 

[dvboy]

Can the advances be bought with CIV?

 

[bnm]

It would appear that there are Advance fares available between London Intl (CIV) and Birmingham Stns, priced by Virgin.

Asking at a station or a call to Virgin Telesales is a good bet. Eurostar may also offer them.

Looking at the ticket type codes for the EOS (Europe Open Single) and EVS (Europe High Saver Single) the only difference I can see is that the the EOS allows break of journey. There are no time restrictions on the EVS. So £23.50 for a flexible ticket to get you from St Pancras to Birmingham seems pretty good to me.

 

[button_boxer]

Can the advances be bought with CIV?

Yes, all tickets sold by Eurostar telesales are to/from "Lndon Estar CIV" (at least the Birmingham and EMT ones are, which are the ones I've had reason to buy).

 

[dvboy]

Thanks

I think an advance will be fine as with CIV if we are delayed by ICE or Eurostar we are covered for the next train, we don't need break of journey.

Once I've booked the London Spezial I'll see if New Street booking office can do me 3x advances from London International on the 20:23.

 

[button_boxer]

You can try the booking office but I've always had more success booking by phone direct with E*.

 

[John @ home]

We are using a 'London Spezial' ticket at €49 each to get back to London arriving 19:57.

I'll see if New Street booking office can do me 3x advances from London International on the 20:23.

I don't think that would be wise. To gain the benefits of the CIV ticket, you must allow at least the advertised connection time. St Pancras - Euston has a minimum connection of 38 minutes for domestic connections and an additional 35 minutes should be added for Eurostar connections - see page 44 of the Introduction to the National Rail Timetable.

You should not book a departure from Euston earlier than 2110 on a CIV ticket.

 

[dvboy]

I think the 35 minutes for Eurostar connections is only for connecting TO the Eurostar.

I have a through booking from Lille to Birmingham booked with Eurostar with a 46 minute connection between St Pancras and Euston.

By that reckoning the 20:43 should be fine.

 

[Oscar]

Presumably the extra 35 minutes are only needed when leaving the UK as there are not normally any security checks on arrival. Raileasy sells CIV connections from King's Cross with a transfer time of only about 15-20 minutes. However apparently there are now sometimes security checks on arrival at St Pancras (to close the Lille loophole) so do be wary!

 

[34D]

Presumably the extra 35 minutes are only needed when leaving the UK as there are not normally any security checks on arrival. Raileasy sells CIV connections from King's Cross with a transfer time of only about 15-20 minutes. However apparently there are now sometimes security checks on arrival at St Pancras (to close the Lille loophole) so do be wary!

Loophole? Last time I was at Lille (which was in the last week of Waterloo International) there was a full UK Border Force presence there with ticket check/passport check.

 

[tony_mac]

Loophole?

See
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16058860

 

[bnm]

Simple solution. The UK should sign up to Schengen....

 

[BorisWiffWaff]

Simple solution. The UK should sign up to Schengen....

Agreed, rather than having the 3rd degree asking what have you been doing etc (Eurotunnel border is the worst for this), although I've just come right across Europe without being asked.

 

[paul1609]

Simple solution. The UK should sign up to Schengen....

Nice idea but sadly not pratical because of the large number of would be immigrants wishing to claim the UKs generous benefits.

 

[Yew]

Nice idea but sadly not pratical because of the large number of would be immigrants wishing to claim the UKs generous benefits.

Make a minimum residency period for benefits?

 

[bnm]

Nice idea but sadly not pratical because of the large number of would be immigrants wishing to claim the UKs generous benefits.

Nice to see that hoary old chestnut raise it's head again.:roll:

Just how many immigrants have there been to the UK from other EU countries coming over specifically to live on benefits?

If you call £65 a week, with no priority over UK citizens for social housing, generous, then I suggest you try living on it.

Schengen relates only to inter-EU travel. Migrants from outside the EU are still subject to full border controls. Migrants from outside the EU have no automatic right to even £65 a week, much less access to the social housing waiting lists.