Oxfordprospect.co.uk - Oxford News

Chiltern Railways in partnership with Eurostar, the international high-speed operator, announced today the expansion of through fares from 15 new Chiltern Railways stations to Paris, Brussels, Lille, Disneyland ® Resort Paris and 100 other destinations across mainland Europe

Passengers can now buy great value-for-money through fares to the Continent from just £65 return travelling from Banbury, Kings Sutton, Bicester North, Haddenham, Princes Risborough, Saunderton, High Wycombe, Beaconsfield, Seer Green, Gerrards Cross, Denham, Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville, Wendover and Great Missenden stations.

There are up to 13 connecting services to Paris a day and up to eight connecting services a day to Brussels. Total journey times are from only 3 hours 30 minutes (includes London Underground transfers between Marylebone station and St Pancras International and a 30 minute Eurostar check-in).

Passengers have been able to buy through fares to travel to the Continent from Birmingham Moor Street, Solihull, Warwick Parkway, Warwick and Leamington Spa since 14 November 2007.

The number of Eurostar journeys by travellers living in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire increased by at least a third in the first quarter of 2008, compared with the same period a year ago.

For Chiltern Railway passengers, through fares include transfer on London Underground from Marylebone station to St Pancras International at no extra cost, and offer travellers a guarantee that they will be put on the next available train, if there is a late running service in either direction. Unlike many air fares, with through fares there are no booking fees or taxes.

Peter Owen, Marketing Director at Chiltern Railways said:  “The train is now the easier and much more pleasant way to get to Europe and these new through tickets make it easier still.  What’s more there are some bargains to be found!

“We’re delighted to expand this ‘one fare’ option to 15 new stations.  It gives our passengers the chance to take up these great savings and explore the Continent by train.”

Simon Montague, Director of Communications for Eurostar, said: “With Eurostar’s move to St Pancras International and the introduction of through fares with prices as good as or better than those offered by regional airlines, millions more UK residents now have a much greater choice in they way they travel to the Continent.

“The increasing numbers of UK travellers choosing to travel to mainland Europe by rail indicates that a clear shift is occurring, with people no longer seeing short-haul air travel as their best or only option.”

Through fares from 20 Chiltern Railways-served stations to Paris, Brussels, Disneyland ® Resort Paris are available at www.eurostar.com or on 08705 186 186 and start from just £65 return. Travellers can also book through tickets to over 75 other destinations across France; any station in Belgium; Dutch destinations including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Schipol and The Hague; and Aachen and Cologne in Germany.

Through-fares are available 84 days in advance, in line with Chiltern Railways booking horizons

Ends

Notes to Editors:

New Chiltern Railways served stations: lowest return through fares and fastest journey times (including a 40 minute transfer between Marylebone station and St Pancras International and a 30 minute Eurostar check-in) are as follows:

Aylesbury to Paris/Brussels: £72 return, journey times 4h35 / 4h 15

Banbury to Paris/Brussels: £74 return, journey times 4h40 / 4h30

Beaconsfield to Paris/Brussels: £69 return, journey times 4h00/ 3h35

Bicester North to Paris/Brussels: £74 return, journey times 4h35/ 4h15

Denham to Paris/Brussels: £65 return, journey times 4h00 / 3h45

Gerrards Cross to Paris/Brussels: £67 return, journey times 3h55 / 3h30

Great Missenden to Paris/Brussels: £67 return, journey times 4h20 / 4h00

Haddenham to Paris/Brussels: £74 return, journey times 4h20 / 4h05

High Wycombe to Paris/Brussels: £70 return, journey times 4h05 / 3h40

Kings Sutton to Paris/Brussels: £74 return, journey times 4h50 / 4h30

Princes Risborough to Paris/Brussels: £72 return, journey times 4h15 / 3h55

Saunderton to Paris/Brussels: £71 return, journey times 4h25 / 4h00

Seer Green to Paris/Brussels: £69 return, journey times 4h10 / 3h55

Stoke Mandeville to Paris/Brussels: £71 return, journey times 4h30 / 4h10

Wendover to Paris/Brussels: £70 return, journey times 4h25 / 4h05

(Lowest through fares to Disneyland Resort Paris, and to any station in Belgium, the lowest fares are the same price as for Paris and Brussels.)