Eurostar is set for its busiest weekend of the year to date

• Maiden voyage of Eurostar’s new direct ‘Route du Soleil’ service to Lyon and Provence
• Over 100,000 passengers set to travel over the bank holiday weekend
• More than 200 extra services to Paris to meet Summer demand

2013-05-02 — /travelprnews.com/ — Eurostar is set for its busiest weekend of the year to date as winter weary Brits vote with their passports in a bid to escape the prolonged cold snap.  Over 100,000 passengers are expected to travel over the bank holiday weekend which coincides with the maiden voyage of Eurostar’s brand new  direct service to Lyon and Provence.

Hundreds of Brits will board the new weekly Lyon-Provence service this Saturday 4 May ahead of its inaugural departure from St Pancras International en route to Lyon, Avignon (TGV) and Aix-en-Provence (TGV).  The ‘Route du Soleil’ is Eurostar’s first new direct route in over 10 years and offers sun starved travellers a stress free journey through the beautiful French countryside before arriving relaxed at their final destination and the welcome Provencal sunshine.

Since tickets were first launched for sale, the trial service which operates this year from 4 May to 29 June 2013 has proved extremely popular with travellers keen to avoid the low-cost airline experience.   Several peak travel dates are already close to selling out and travellers are advised to book soon to avoid missing out.

As well as the popularity of the Provencal countryside it appears that the British love affair with Paris is also stronger than ever. To help meet increasing demand for travel to the ‘city of love’, Eurostar has added more than 200 extra services to Paris from 4 May – 1 September 2013. These additional services have been introduced to satisfy demand over weekends and bank holidays during the summer months.

Mary Walsh, Director of Communications, Eurostar, said: “This is a landmark weekend for Eurostar as we launch our first new direct service in over 10 years.  We’re braced for a busy weekend in our stations as British travellers seek some respite from the seemingly endless cold weather.  The continuing popularity of our services, both old and new, is testament to the ease and convenience of a high-speed journey by Eurostar.”

Return fares for Lyon start from £99 and £109 for Avignon and Aix-en-Provence. Tickets for travel to Paris, Disneyland Paris, Brussels and Lille start from £69 return.

For more information, to book Eurostar tickets or purchase Eurostar gift vouchers visit www.eurostar.com or call 08432 186 186.

-ENDS-

About Eurostar

1.       Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.

2.     Eurostar was established in 1994 as a partnership between three railway companies: SNCF, SNCB and LCR (London and Continental Railways).  On 1 September 2010, Eurostar became a single, unified corporate entity owned by three shareholders: SNCF, SNCB and LCR.

3.     The current Eurostar train was first introduced into service in 1994 carrying 750 passengers and operating at speeds of up to 300kph.  Since then, the fleet of 28 trains has carried more than 130 million passengers between London and the Continent.  Following their refurbishment these trains will continue to form a core part of the Eurostar fleet.  The new Eurostar e320 will carry more than 900 passengers at speeds of up to 320kph.

4.     Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe’s leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.

5.     Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies.  Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates vehicle shuttle services and the Channel Tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel’s biggest customer.

For more information:
Eurostar Press Office
020 7843 5500
press.office@eurostar.co.uk

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