eurostar timings

[LethargeMarg]

Complete eurostar novice and had not realised about the early check in.
our current uk train arrives one hour before departure meaning realistically we will join the q about 20 mins before the gate closes.
eeek!!! will try and change uk train as to push eurostar back will be an additional £200.
has anyone travelled this summer and can advise if my current train times are at all realistic??? My mum says she thinks we will just make it but i’m feeling v anxious and v stupid for not realising this will be an issue

You will never make it through in 20 minutes.

Oh no. In my head ‘the gate’ is literally walking through a gate and then having all the checks but i think thats being optimistic isn’t it

Yes, 90 minutes is recommended.

fingers crossed we can change to an earlier train to london

It's the same process as airport security: ticket and passport checks and baggage scanned. Having said that, it's much quicker than an airport - an hour has always been easily enough for us, and we've traveled many times including this summer. In fact there have been times when 20 minutes would have been enough but I definitely wouldn't be counting on it.

Nope you need longer than that. When we travelled recently we were told to be there 90 mins before and that gave us just enough time, it wasn’t like there was a lot of sitting about.

45 mins minimum for Eurostar and if you haven't done it before I'd allow 90 mins. the queues can be LONG in summer (but they are efficient and move quickly)

We traveled on the eurostar in May, quite early .. I think 7.30am. Arrived 90mins early and there were no queues, got through passport control and bag security within 10mins id say. We sat around for over an hr then queued to get on the train. They get you on quite early.
But this is early morning, if there was a build up of passengers going through passport control for train earlier and later than yours then you are screwed. It just takes a delay to one train for it to become chaotic.
The queue barrier area that it snakes around is really long so would take a very long time if busy.
FyI You need 90mins + to get through Gare du Nord in Paris when travelling back. I've never had a smooth time getting through passport control and security there. It is a shambles, never enough staff on.

What queue? The queue to scan your ticket? That's just the first queue! Next comes security, then two sets of border controls. Then you'll need to rush up the stairway to find your coach. No way would i say 20 mins is enough.

Bear in mind there will be passengers for trains to Amsterdam and Bruxelles as well as the Paris trains.

can’t believe i hadn’t thought about this! i just thought it was like getting on another train and had no idea of all the checks needed 😣
worse case scenario i’ll have to fork out the extra to push the eurostar back
i guess at least ive realised today and not on the day itself and missed the train

I travelled 3 weeks ago and was through in around 30 minutes. I had simple hand luggage.
Eurostar actually emailed me a few days before and offered free changes to earlier/later trains due to the hot weather. I moved my train forward from 6pm to 12 noon.

ooh thats good to know

They usually start the queue 75 minutes ahead of departure for Standard but may extend this if checks are taking longer. Shorter check in time for Premier class. You need to take an earlier train.

It’s not quite like going on a plane cos you enter/exit France before you get on the train. There is no border control on departure at airports in the UK. The advantage with Eurostar is is you walk straight off at either London or Gare du Nord so no faffing on arrival. But you’d need to plan to arrive at least 60m before, ideally 90.

I wouldn't risk it personally, but you might be okay. "Check-in gate closing" refers to the very first part of the process: scanning your ticket at the barriers. There can be a long snaking queue for that. To be honest, I've only ever travelled with them early morning (checking in around 5am or once at 7am) and it only took a few minutes each time for that first part.
After check-in you go through security, followed by both UK and French border controls. Then you're in the waiting area, with boarding of the trains usually commencing around 25 minutes before departure.
So it's mainly a case of whether 20 minutes will be enough for you to get to scan your ticket at check-in before the gate for your train closes. PP are right though in that very long queues can form both in and outside St Pancras at busy times.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

Also, I don't know whether Eurostar are currently implementing the new EES procedures (I've heard conflicting information), but if they are you'll need to allow extra time for that.

Is your first train coming into St Pancras or do you also need to get across London? Even if coming into St Pancras and even if your first train comes in on time, it's a pretty big station... I generally arrive for Eurostar around 45 minutes before departure time but I don't think 20 minutes is enough, especially if you have luggage and kids with you.

OP said they'd get there 20 mins before the gate closes, so 50 mins before departure time, not 20 mins before departure time.

Even so, not much leeway for delays

I agree. I'm very cautious so always get there way beforehand. But many PP seem to think OP was saying 20 mins before train departure.

It's painfully slow. That real isn't enough time

ive managed to change my train london to get in 90 mins before- phew! be just our luck theyll be no queue now as had to pay extra £90 as earlier train more expensive but worth the stress reduction! (i think we risked the later train when we originally booked it as it was cheaper and we hadn’t realised the check in timings)
Had terrible holiday at start of the summer so i need this one to go well !

Good luck and hope you have a good journey. We always arrive at St P 70 -90 mins before departure. That is more than enough time to get something to eat, wander around, do security and passport checks. It can be done in 60 mins but it is a bit tight.

I remember once due to train delays coming back through France having 50 mins to get across Paris and on to our Eurostar, we made it by the skin of our teeth, but I would not recommend sprinting across Gare du Nord in 33 degree heat.

I have done Eurostar with 30min before departure but that was Brussels Midi for the last train in a Saturday night and before Brexit.

There are generally different queues for the different times trains, not just one queue. And I think the staff would be pretty good at helping if you are running late. Coming From Paris to London last summer, some people did miss their train due to the queues and were just rebooked on the next one. I doubt they would have been charged.

Definitely the right thing to do. It takes a while to get through the security and passport control and the queues can be really long. 90 mins sounds right and it gives you more time to buy some snacks, go to the loo etc.