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Genève / Geneva to London by train
How to take the thrilling high speed rail journey between these cities
The only viable route involves crossing Paris city centre to make the transfer from one high speed train to another.
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Routes
From Genève/Geneva-Cornavin to London St Pancras International
Journey Summary
7hr 10min - 8hr approx
Daily
Travel Information
The Geneve to London tickets do not include the transfer across Paris.
The departure options on this route are now close to the usual, pre-pandemic timetable, as both more of the Lyria and Eurostar services have been restored per day.
The majority of the end-to-end journeys, which will be theoretically* available for booking, allow around 1hr 20mins to make the transfer across Paris from the Gare De Lyon, which is where the Lyria train will arrive, to the Gare Du Nord, which is where the Eurostar will depart from.
This will allow around 20 - 30min contingency time for a delayed arrival of the Lyria service, and still make the check-in and departure of the Eurostar train.
*= The reason for the use of 'theoretically' is that pre-pandemic, these end-to-end journeys, which allow 1hr 20 mins for the transfer, were routinely available for purchase on the ticket booking services, but this no longer seems to be the case.
All that's currently available for booking as end-to-end journeys, are seemingly a more limited combination of journey options, which allow more than two hours to make the transfer between Parisian stations.
If you want to take the faster end-to-end journey of around 7hr 10mis, an option is to book separate tickets for the Geneve to Paris and Paris to London journeys.
However, if you do so and a delay to the Lyria train causes a missed connection into the Eurostar, you will need to re-book the Paris to London journey.
Mon - Friday = up to 5 x connections per day
Sat and Sun up to 4 x connections per day
Change trains in: Paris
Tickets
Book Early And Save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead
The very cheapest tickets tend to sell out particularly quickly on this route; they're more likely to be available if you can travel on a Tuesday - Thursday, or are happy to set off from Geneve early in the morning.
The price below is for a one way fare - if you're booking a return ticket, it's likely you will be offered a cheaper price in each direction.
On Trainline the main station in Geneve/Geneva is named 'Genéve-Cornavin'.
Eurostar does not sell tickets for this journey.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | from €79 |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Aim to be at Geneve a minimum of 15 mins before departure, you may have to pass through immigration control before boarding this train.
Final Destination: Paris
All trains also call at: Bellegarde
This is a journey of two distinct contrasts
The first third of the journey is scenic.
If your reserved seat is on the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel), there are views of the river valley to be enjoyed between Geneve and Bellegarde.
But the most scenic part of the route comes between Bellegarde and the high speed line.
For the final two thirds of the journey, the train will be on the high speed line.
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
As a consequence of the Covid-19 crisis Eurostar is operating a particularly limited timetable for the time being - further information is available on Eurostar.com
Note that these trains depart from the Gare Du Nord.
Final Destination: London St Pancras
Some trains also call at: Ashford International or Ebbfleet International (these station calls have been suspended until 2023)
Note that London is in a different time zone to mainland Europe, it is one hour behind - so when looking at a timetable the journey will look as though it's an hour shorter.
Checking in:
Eurostar requests that holders of Standard Class And Standard Premier tickets check-in a minimum of 30mins before departure, and 45mins before departure on weekends and holidays.
It is up to you to allow time to pass through check-in and board the train.
If you have a Business Premier ticket, Eurostar recommends that you only have to check-in 10 mins before departure.
At Gare Du Nord the check in and waiting area for the Eurostar (the 'Hall Du Londres') is at an upper level, above the main concourse.
The access to this upper level is some distance from the voies (platforms/tracks) that the Eurostars depart from.
The escalators leading up to Eurostar departures are located at the rear wall of the station building - on opposite side of the concourse to voies/platforms/tracks 14 - 15.
It's not a scenic journey, but it is a journey with distinct phases and highlights:
1: There is little to see from the high speed lines in France, particularly after Lille (the trains to Paris will rush through Lille Europe station).
2: The train will slow down as it approaches The Channel Tunnel.
Announcements are no longer made that the train is about to enter the tunnel.
The journey through the tunnel will take around 22 mins.
3: As the train nears Ebbsfleet International station, comes the scenic highlight of the journey - the crossing of the River Medway on a high bridge.
4: After Ebbsfleet International (which can only be seen from the right) the train will enter a tunnel under the River Thames.
As the train exits this tunnel, from the left, the Queen Elizabeth II road bridge can be seen.
5: For most of the final 8 -10 mins of the journey the trains use tunnels to enter London (Stratford International station is located between the tunnels).
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