The Man in Seat 61
Eurostar say leisure travel is back to 100% of pre-pandemic levels & business travel 80-85%. But due to Brexit they can only provide 70% of pre-pandemic capacity. They've plans to resolve this including trialling online check-in, I've added a summary at https://www.seat61.com/news.htm
The Man in Seat 61:  What's new on the site

News page on the Man in Seat 61 website

Feb 11, 2023 at 10:04amWeb
Show threadRavenfeederFeb 11, 2023
@seatsixtyone "trailling online check-in"? How are Eurostar so far behind the airlines? I really want to use them, but the incredible check-in times make it really hard after spending hours just to get to St Pancras in the first place.
Show threadMathieu 🏘️🚲🏙️🚆🚞🌄Feb 11, 2023
@Ravenfeeder @seatsixtyone I'm still trying to figure out what online check-in would provide... Isn't the current check-in procedure just scanning your ticket into a machine so that it opens the gate? 🤔
Show threadRavenfeederFeb 11, 2023
@slasherfun I don't know, it's been nearly 8 years since I last used it, but I seem to recall having to go to the counter to check-in. I'm hoping to use it more in the next few years so I'd like things to be as easy as possible. When flying I can check-in either from my hotel or the transport to the airport and then just scan in using my phone.
Show threadNicholas EmblingFeb 11, 2023
@seatsixtyone I hope if they do that the process is better than their endlessly confusing booking website.
Show threadGabriele PollaraFeb 11, 2023
@seatsixtyone
So depressing. What's making them cap it at 70%? Simply can't process travellers fast enough at passport control?
Show threadDanFeb 11, 2023
@gpollara @seatsixtyone essentially yes.
Since brexit before EITAS every single person now needs to be asked all the normal 3rd country. questions you get at immigration, business or pleasure. How long are you staying, where are you staying, how are you financially supporting this stay and so on.
Before the passport is stamped and handed back, what used to take 5 seconds can now take 30s or more
Show threadGabriele PollaraFeb 11, 2023

@Dasy2k1
Thank you for clarifying, all makes sense.

I know it's a debate that no one wants to reopen but reading what you wrote, it still all seems ludicrous that anyone would celebrate such a regression in travel flexibility / ease in 2023. 🤷‍♂️
@seatsixtyone

Show threadMarjorieRFeb 11, 2023

@Dasy2k1 @gpollara @seatsixtyone Having travelled to Paris and back by Eurostar in Jan I don't recall of being delayed by lots of questions at either French or UK Passport control (you have both when onboarding). Though there was an additional booth to pass through for my Passport to get stamped. Maybe that's my UK Passport/White privilege.

Also AFAIK what I did was an online check-in where I went to the website and got my 'boarding pass' (with QR) for my phone and printed off a paper backup.

Show threadMarjorieRFeb 11, 2023
@Dasy2k1 @gpollara @seatsixtyone I would agree with the suggestion that if they can't fill the trains at St. Pancras because of congestion then it would make sense to fill them up at Ebbfleet/Ashford. In fact if they are diverting those who would prefer to use Ebbfleet/Ashford to St Pancras they are only making the problem worse.
Show threadMathieu 🏘️🚲🏙️🚆🚞🌄Feb 11, 2023
@gpollara @seatsixtyone Exactly. Lack of border police on the UK side, and Brexit also meant that passports of EU passengers now have to be stamped, which also lengthens the process.
Show threadQuixoticgeekFeb 11, 2023
@seatsixtyone Why don't they just reopen Ebbsfleet and Ashford? If the bottleneck is st Pancras, adding two more stations in the UK would increase how many seats they could sell, Surely?
Show threadslidemanFeb 11, 2023
@quixoticgeek @seatsixtyone
Staffing two more sets of check-in, security, & border formalities.
Show threadQuixoticgeekFeb 11, 2023
@slideman @seatsixtyone paid for by selling 30% more seats ...
Show threadslidemanFeb 11, 2023
@quixoticgeek @seatsixtyone
I guess govt has to fund the border formalities, but €* gets the seat money.
Show threadMathieu 🏘️🚲🏙️🚆🚞🌄Feb 11, 2023
@quixoticgeek @seatsixtyone Because UK border force can't provide enough staff for that apparently.
Show threadQuixoticgeekFeb 11, 2023
@slasherfun @seatsixtyone radical concept I know, but why doesn't UK border force hire some more staff ?
Show threadMathieu 🏘️🚲🏙️🚆🚞🌄Feb 11, 2023
@quixoticgeek @seatsixtyone I guess because the British government hasn't increased (enough) border force budget for that.
Show threadSonia SánchezFeb 11, 2023
@seatsixtyone Would love to travel by train more. So hard to get the cheaper tickets. It’s just prohibitive at the moment.
Show threadRyan RampersadFeb 11, 2023
@seatsixtyone I wish we had more trains here!
Show threadmikecrosslandFeb 11, 2023
@seatsixtyone the 70% occupancy figure doesn’t reflect my recent experience, with apparently full trains (and no delays at St Pancras or Brussels
Show threadThe Man in Seat 61Feb 12, 2023
@mikecrossland . 70% capacity. Peak trains with limited seats sold. Fewer trains so some go out full. Overall, 70% less seats to sell than 2019.
Show threadMichael EdwardsFeb 12, 2023
@seatsixtyone Thanks. But isn't it crazy that they don't stop at Ebbsfleet or Ashford since doing so would circumvent the St Pancras constraint?