How long before departure do I need to get to Lille Europe for a Eurostar to Brussels?
I'm booked on a Eurostar from Lille to Brussels (ie it's a London to Brussels Eurostar, and I'm getting on it after it has crossed the channel)
The PDF ticket that I've received from Eurostar says I need to be there a minimum of 45 minutes before. I have a feeling that this is just the same ticket template as for a trip from London, and it doesn't apply. The last time I was in Lille Europe station, trains from London would arrive on the non-secure platforms while trains to London would use the secure ones.
Do I need to get to Lille Europe station 45 minutes before I catch my train? I wouldn't need to if it was a normal SNCF train from Lille to Brussels.
Best Answer
No you don't need to get there that early. Just turn up as early as you would for any domestic train. You don't have to do passport control or pass through the normal Eurostar security.
Lille to Brussels Eurostar travellers are put into the last carriage to separate them from UK -> Brussels travellers and guards on the train ensure that passengers can't leave this carriage.
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How early do you need to arrive for the Eurostar?
Check-in for Eurostar journeys opens an hour and 15 minutes before departure. We recommend that you arrive at least 40 minutes prior to your train leaving so you can have a stress-free check-in.How long before departure does Eurostar board?
Eurostar check-in closes 30 minutes before departure for Standard and Standard Premier ticket holders....Eurostar check-in time.Traveller typeMinimum time before departureBusiness Premier20 minutesEurostar\u2122 carte blanche holders20 minutes5 more rows•Mar 31, 2022How long before train departure should I arrive?
We recommend arriving a minimum of 30-45 minutes before the train is scheduled to roll out. But if you're new to the station, plan to check baggage or want to grab a magazine before your trip, earlier is better. By now, we hope you know each rider can travel with up to four pieces of checked luggage.How long does it take to get through Eurostar customs?
You should be clear of customs from the Eurostar within minutes and it is probably 5 to 10 minutes on from there to the platform for the Folkestone train. Provided the Eurostar train is on time you should be in plenty of time.Eurostar départ gare Lille Europe.
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Answer 2
The Eurostar page for Lille says
WHEN TO ARRIVE AT THE STATION
There’s no need to check in for Eurostar, just scan your ticket at the ticket gate.
There follows a table with an entry
How long before departure does the gate close?
For all classes of travel it give 30 minutes except Business Premier class is 20 minutes.
Answer 3
You presume that the same ticket template is used for all stations. I think this is incorrect.
Eurostar's "When to Arrive" page shows recommended times for arrival at Eurostar stations. Here are two screenshots with more accessible versions.
First, for boarding at Lille:
| Standard and Standard Premier |
Business Premier |
Carte Blanche |
Classique and Advantage |
Special Assist |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How long before departure should I arrive? (mins) |
90 | 45–60 | 60–75 | 90 | 75–90 |
| How long before departure does the gate close? (mins) |
30 | 20 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
Second, for boarding at London / St. Pancras:
| Standard and Standard Premier |
Business Premier |
Carte Blanche |
Classique and Advantage |
Special Assist |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| How long before departure should I arrive? (mins) |
90–120 | 45–60 | 45–60 | 90–120 | 60–75 |
| How long before departure does the gate close? (mins) |
30 | 15 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
The times are different.
This Eurostar help page says:
When should I arrive for my train?
Please download your ticket to see what time we recommend you arrive at the station.
Your recommended arrival time might change nearer your travel dates. So, if you downloaded your ticket a while ago, it’s a good idea to download it again before you set off.
If you haven’t booked a trip yet, you can check all of our station arrival times in our guide. These timings are just for guidance and can sometimes change.
Your ticket shows even different times. This suggests to me that the ticket information is more journey-specific than the general guidance or guides displayed on the web. Eurostar isn't SNCF, and it doesn't seem prudent to extrapolate from one to the other.
I'd follow the guidance on your Eurostar ticket.
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