o/t Eurostar - Ebbsfleet or St Pancras?

[Bombadier Botty]

I'm Brighton-based - which would NSC recommend as the best station to get the Eurostar? I can't help feeling that the train to St Pancras (I presume there is a direct train from Brighton) would be better than driving to Ebbsfleet, but opinion seems split from people I've spoken to. Thoughts please.

 

[MattBackHome]

Ashford?

 

[adrian29uk]

Ebbsfleet. Great station, quiet and easy to get too. Ashford is no longer the main station and therefore runs a minimum service these days to Paris & Brussels.

ebbsfleet international - Google Image Search

 

[Questions]

Ebbsfleet if you are leaving early a.m. (from Worthing its impossible to get up to St Pancras early enough to get the first train out)
11pound a day in the carpark and a leisurely stroll to the train.

 

[Dover]

Never been on what looks a terrific train and now with the new Medway bridge and cutting into new parts of the Kent countryside must be a fantastic journey. however, I would take the St. Pancreas route, direct train, central London if you need to look around, get a cup of tea, etc.

Please don't go via Ashford. The service on the station is appalling at best. It's no wonder that the Eurostar has all but pulled out. Having said that though, the Marsh Link is punctual and very reliable.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Cheers for responses. Leaving on 7pm train on a Friday, so in a way don't fancy driving to Kent from Brighton in the rush hour. Someone said that it's free to park in Ebbsfleet car park over the weekend (sounds dubious though!)

 

[Questions]

Cheers for responses. Leaving on 7pm train on a Friday, so in a way don't fancy driving to Kent from Brighton in the rush hour. Someone said that it's free to park in Ebbsfleet car park over the weekend (sounds dubious though!)

It wasn`t free last march when I last used the car park on a friday but it might be different now.

 

[Norman Potting]

If you get a Thameslink service (or whatever they call themselves these days) from Brighton it will take you straight to Kings Cross which is next door to St Pancras.

 

[aftershavedave]

If you get a Thameslink service (or whatever they call themselves these days) from Brighton it will take you straight to Kings Cross which is next door to St Pancras.

sadly though having spent three hours on the first crapital you'll have missed your eurostar and will smell of piss and stale burgers.....

 

[Albion Rob]

I think the Thameslink/First Capital Connect trains actually call at St Pancras International now rather than Kings Cross Thameslink.

Personally, I'd go from St Pancras. The station has been done out beautifully and you get longer on a brilliant train service, cutting through the southeastern tip of our beuatiful isle.

 

[Austrian Gull]

sadly though having spent three hours on the first crapital you'll have missed your eurostar and will smell of piss and stale burgers.....

Harsh but fair!

 

[London Calling]

I think the Thameslink/First Capital Connect trains actually call at St Pancras International now rather than Kings Cross Thameslink.

Personally, I'd go from St Pancras. The station has been done out beautifully and you get longer on a brilliant train service, cutting through the southeastern tip of our beuatiful isle.

classic station and you can sup champagne in the champers bar and appreciate one of the great stations of Europe

 

[The Large One]

classic station and you can sup champagne in the champers bar and appreciate one of the great stations of Europe

You're right, you know.

 

[Tight shorts]

Did this trip a couple of weeks ago and it went really well. Got direct train to St Pancras on the thameslink, really simple. Strangely, no direct trains back on the Saturday so cab to London Bridge £8 and direct train back from there.
Have a good trip.

 

[Peter Grummit]

They are reinstating a better service from Ashford in acouple of weeks time following the recent fire.

However, I would still go via St Pancras as then you get the full Eurostar experience. Tip: Unless you are going first classs when champagne and food is all included, take a posh picnic: there isn't a better way to start the weekend.

PG

 

[Uter]

Did this trip a couple of weeks ago and it went really well. Got direct train to St Pancras on the thameslink, really simple. Strangely, no direct trains back on the Saturday so cab to London Bridge £8 and direct train back from there.
Have a good trip.

Probably due to the Thameslink upgrade. This is from the Thameslink Programme website and is certainly worth bearing in mind for anyone wanting to use the Thameslink service to travel across London at weekends for the next 4 years:

"Brace yourself: there are no cross-London Thameslink route service between London Bridge / Herne Hill and St Pancras International from 10.30pm to 4.30am, Mondays to Fridays, and during most weekends until 2012.

There’s simply no other way for Network Rail to do the essential track and signalling work needed for the Thameslink route upgrade, so please bear with us."

 

[Man of Harveys]

Strangely, no direct trains back on the Saturday so cab to London Bridge £8 and direct train back from there.

Or just get the Victoria line to, Victoria, from where there's a much better train service to Brighton anyway.

 

[London Calling]

Or just get the Victoria line to, Victoria, from where there's a much better train service to Brighton anyway.

but beware no victoria trains after a certain time on weekdays and worst at weekends?

 

[Bombadier Botty]

Cheers for all the advice guys. London it is.