UK Ferry Tickets

Eurostar, one of my favourite modes of transport, has done particularly well in the weeks since the terror alert of August 10.

Many people have seen the queues at airports, and read about the restrictions on hand luggage, and have remembered there is an alternative to flying to the Continent. It also happens to be environmentally friendly, which helps the green lobby sleep at night.

If you’re planning on letting the train take the strain in the next few weeks, you might find yourself sat next to a musical instrument worth millions of pounds. Musicians are no longer allowed to take the tools of their trade on board aircraft and, as they are not prepared to risk checking delicate and valuable instruments into the hold, are buying extra seats for them on trains. Apparently, a cello used in a symphony orchestra can cost around £2.5 million, which surprises me as you can get one in our local music shop for around £150.

In the wake of all this positive publicity, Eurostar has been showing journalists around Ebsfleet, its new station near the M25 at Gravesend.

It all looks rather splendid, but the cloud to this silver lining is that Ashford, the £100 million station in Kent, is to lose most of its services to the Continent. Within a year, all its services to Brussels and more than half of those to Paris will be gone.

Ebbsfleet is around 30 miles north of Ashford and is not as easily accessible by public transport.

Meanwhile, when St Pancras opens next year as the new London hub for Eurostar, the terminal at Waterloo will close.

Are these changes good or bad for you? Let me know what you think of the Eurostar developments.

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Friday, May 18th, 2012