-
Cheaper but slower… €10 train fare for Paris to Brussels routes
Ticket sales are already open for journeys up to the end of March
-
See which offences can result in a car being impounded in France
There is also a time limit and set procedure to follow to recover a car
-
SNCF comes fifth in European ranking of best train companies
Eurostar did not fare quite so well
France-London transport fares spike ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral
Eurostar ticket prices have risen by more than 20%. SNCF and airline bookings are also up – despite an air traffic control strike planned for Friday
The price of travel between France and London has risen by more than 20% for some passengers ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, which is set to take place on Monday, September 19.
Train tickets have been particularly affected, as has the cost of hotels in the English capital.
One single Paris-London Eurostar train ticket on Saturday, September 17, or Sunday, September 18, is currently showing at €240. This is at least 20% higher than the usual cost of a last-minute seat.
A single journey from London to Paris the day after the funeral, on Tuesday, September 20, is showing at €224.
Eurostar said the price rise was due to a slight increase in demand due to the late monarch’s funeral.
The day after the announcement that Queen Elizabeth II had passed, the company tweeted a photo of the late monarch and her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh visiting the launch of the first-ever Eurostar train in May 1994.
QUEEN ELIZABETH II 1926 – 2022
— Eurostar UK (@EurostarUK) September 9, 2022
We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of The Queen and our thoughts are with The Royal Family. Today, we’re sharing the fond memory of The Queen attending the launch of our very first train in May 1994. pic.twitter.com/XZX07TqFoO
French train company SNCF is reporting similar rises. Sales for journeys towards London from France have more than doubled in the days since the Queen’s death.
Flixbus, the main coach service provider between the countries, has also reported a 17% rise in bookings towards the UK between today (September 14) and Monday.
Demand for airline tickets has not risen quite as much, although prices for flights towards the UK have slightly increased in price.
The increased demand comes after French aviation authority la Direction générale de l'Aviation civile (DGAC) asked airlines to ground 50% of their scheduled flights on Friday, September 16, following a strike notice from an air traffic controller union.
The Syndicat national des contrôleurs du trafic aérien (SNCTA), which has been calling for pay rises for the last few months, in view of France’s high inflation rate.
It is also asking for a recruitment drive, as one third of current air traffic controllers are expected to retire between 2029 and 2035.
Read more: Strike action to ground one in every two flights in France on Friday
Hotel rooms in London have also spiked in price, with rates soaring by as much as three or four times for nights around the funeral date.
The price of souvenirs and trinkets related to Elizabeth II have also risen considerably due to heightened demand.
Related articles
‘We loved her so much’: France reacts to news of the Queen’s death
Macron pays tribute to the Queen: ‘We all feel an emptiness’
British Embassy extends opening hours for Queen’s book of condolence