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EuroStar – London to Cologne
Waiting at St Pancras International Station
It’s Mid September and I’m departing on an InterRail travel journey to Scandinavia. I’m waiting at St Pancras International Station with my passport and baggage check complete and ready for the 13.01 to Brussels. However, it’s nowhere to be seen.
Third coffee of the day and eventually the announcer tells us that the train will depart 40 minutes late. So much for my 15 minute transfer window at Brussels to catch a connection to Cologne.
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Travelling to the Channel Tunnel
At 13.40 the train eventually leaves the station and dives straight into a series of tunnels under north London, prior to emerging into the eastern suburbs of the city.
Next, we glide across viaducts over Rainham Marshes and West Thurrock before descending beneath the Thames and emerging to the west of the post COVID abandoned Ebbsfleet EuroStar station. Only thirty minutes out and we have already emerged from the city and are gliding towards the garden of England, Flying across the Medway estuary there’s not an oast house or country pub to be seen. Soon we are out-racing juggernauts on the parallel M20, passing through another abandoned EuroStar station at Ashford and sailing past the Le Shuttle terminal at Cheriton.
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The Tunnel
90 minutes from St Pancras and we’re plunging beneath La Marche to echoing sounds and subdued lighting. Next it’s Lille where we arrive some twenty five minutes late. All hope of catching the 16.22 from Brussels has now evaporated – but hark, what is that message on the tannoy, apparently the gods have agreed to delay the 16.22’s departure to allow us delayed passengers to join.
A Fiasco in Brussels
Hurriedly out of the train at Brussels, passengers everywhere rushing up the platform. No access allowed to ‘Man in Seat 61’s’ secret tunnel to Platform 6 (Brussels Midi – a brief station guide (seat61.com)) so instead its onward with the crowd, passing through the non existent security point, flowing down the stairs to the subterranean concourse and then up to platform 6, just in time to see the back of the 16.22 as it departs from the platform.
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So much for the gods looking after us. I presume some must have made it though as there are just a few of us slower oldies looking forlornly at the rails. A quick glance at Google confirms it’s a 90 minute wait for the next train so it’s off to Starbucks for a coffee and a cheesecake.
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Arrival in Cologne
Some three hours later I’m finally standing outside Cologne station gazing at the Cathedral and looking for the my first night’s stay. A cheap but convenient hostel pre-booked through Hostelworld.com – The ‘Station- Hostel for Backpackers’.
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Again google leaps to the rescue. It’s only 200 metres away so all’s well that ends well. In this case a private room with a view of the fire escape, an en-suite bathroom and a free towel thrown in, all for less than £50. The escape has been made, Scandinavia here I come.
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#EuroRail #Channeltunnel #eurorailtrains #LondontoColognebyTrain #CologneToLondonbyTrain #EuroRailTrain #stPancrasInternationalTrainStation #interrailtoeurope #traintoeurope #channeltunnelraillink #travelbyEuroStar #euroStartoEurope #euroStartoCologne
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