What is the difference between Eurostar first class and French TGV first class?
I've checked the costs of first class travel by high speed train in France and to UK. According to pictures, first class seats in the Eurostar and TGV look similar in terms of legroom and width, while fares are not. I am not a business traveler but a tourist looking for extra comfort.
I did a comparison of full-fare ticket prices on two trips that are similar in distance and travel time.
For instance, a trip from Paris to Lyon, which lasts 2 hours and covers 500km, costs about €100 full-fare in first class. Using the Eurostar between Paris and London, for a trip that is about the same length and duration, full fare in Standard Premier class is about €200.
Eurostar first class is far more expensive than TGV first class. Does the Eurostar first class offer services that are worth the extra cost?
Best Answer
Basically it boils down to the fact that Eurostar can move you between Paris and London, whereas TGV cannot. It's not about the “extra cost” of Eurostar versus TGV or what Eurostar comfort is worth as this is not a choice available to anybody.
Speculating a bit, there are many things that might contribute to make Eurostar expensive:
- Use rights for the tunnel (not sure about the terminology in English but train companies have to pay to use the train network and Eurostar is regularly complaining about Eurotunnel prices)
- Demand and competition with other means of transportation (it seems there is no shortage of customers ready to pay Eurostar prices so with a more-or-less fixed capacity and high costs there is no reason for them to compete on price)
- Regulation/policy (I don't know all the details and I don't think it's as true today as in the past but for a long time, SNCF was somewhat constrained regarding domestic prices but could set prices on border-crossing high-speed trains freely – so-called “prix de marché”; Most of these trains are operated by subsidiaries like Thalys, Lyria, or Eurostar and have always been more expensive than TGV)
- Cost of the extra security/boarding procedure at Paris Gare du Nord (not sure who pays for that actually)
Now, if you are looking for a great high-speed train to spend time on, no matter the journey, I don't think TGV is particularly good value either. Germany's ICE are my personal favorite but there are many I didn't try yet!
Pictures about "What is the difference between Eurostar first class and French TGV first class?"
What is the difference between TGV and Eurostar?
TGV has a higher power to mass ratio than Eurostar, which is why it can manage steep inclines. This was not necessary in case of Eurostar as it had to run for 50 KM inside the tunnel. TGV travels not just in France, but also in other countries like Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland etc.Is first class worth it on TGV?
There is no difference in the on-board service as no food or drink is included in 1st class on French domestic TGVs. 1st class is just nicer seating, with the option of solo seats or a face to face table for two.What is difference between OuiGo and TGV?
No difference. inOui is the normal TGV service. OuiGo is the discount TGV service.What is the difference between 1st and 2nd class seats on a TGV?
The one major difference between first and second class is meal service at your seat. Not all first class reservations offer a meal service, yet it can be expected on premier operators such as Eurostar, Thalys, and Lyria.Is First Class on a French TGV inOui worth it? Trip review Paris to Bordeaux on Oceane TGV
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Answer 2
I think these answers are missing the most important benefit: savings of time and flexibility with respect to time. If you have a business premiere ticket, there’s a special ticketing queue and it’s open up to 10 minutes before departure.
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