BUSINESS CONVENIENCE

Time is the precious commodity that above all endears the Eurostar service to the business traveller. Journey time form Waterloo to Paris is three hours, to Brussels three hours 15 minutes. And the key point that has made the service so popular is that you really can leave your office in the heart of one capital and get to the heart of the other capital in around three hours. "I think we're a big carrot to those London-based businesses who just want to get people quickly to meetings", says Sandra Ingham.

The operators are keenly aware of this USP* : most passengers will check availability by phone (especially on Friday, the busiest day) and reserve a numbered seat. They can then arrive up to 20 minutes before departure ... with the flexibility to allow Fastrack (who may of course also be Fasttrack members) business latecomers at Waterloo to go through the automatic ticket barriers ten minutes before departure.

WORKING EN ROUTE

The smooth, quiet ride on distincively elegant, streamlined trains, similar to the successful French TGVs, allows passengers to work on laptops, hold meetings, communicate via mobile phones and generally use time as profitably as they would in their office. Premium First and Business First passengers have a meal included in their ticket price. Standard class passengers can buy refreshments from the mobile trolley or visit the bar. "The ambience is noticeably different from other trains", stresses Sandra Ingham. "We've gone through a revolution in introducing the idea of the Eurostar service. We've overcome a barrier of modern conceptions about rail travel".

To do this, Eurostar has invested in highly-trained and experienced staff. "Our train managers are ambassadors. Our customer service assistants are all linguists, all are well-ecudated, well-groomed and experienced in the travel industry". And you cannot but be struck buy the numbers of smiling, smartly dressed personnel who are just there, on hand to help if needed. This - by 90s standards -lavish staffing is intentional. "Eurostar has attracted a very high calibre of personnel. We stress the importance of customer service - it's vital to our succes".

* USP : Unique Selling Proposition

PASSENGER COMMENTS

Mr Morgan :

"I've travelled several times this year with Eurostar. I find it comfortable and relaxing as it eliminates the trials of reaching the centre of Paris from Charles de Gaulle Airport. It is also a convenient form of travel since it is easy to work in comfort during the journey, with the benefit of good food and good service. Normally, from Paris or Brussels, my return travel is by air to London Gatwick, which is closer to my home". (Eurostar has a reciprocal arrangement with British Midland : Eurostar passengers can exchange return tickets for seats on British Midland Diamond Class).

FACTS

• Eurostar is almost a quarter of a mile long and has 18 carriages
• carries 770 passengers, two jumbo jetoads
• speed: up to 186 mph (300 kph)
• journey time London to Paris : 3 hours
• journey time London to Brussels : 3 hours 15 minutes
• journey time from London to Disneyland Paris : 3 hours 5 minutes
• Fares and timetable : Tel 0345 881 881
• Booking : direct on the above number, or via appointed travel agents or at Waterloo International, Ashford International or 40 key stations
• Facilities for the disabled include two wheelchair spaces in First Class (paying Standard fare, also for accompanying passenger): ramps, lifts, lower ticket window

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