Eurostar makes disabled travellers feel welcomed, important and comfortable, rather than applying a ‘minimum standards’ approach too often favoured by other travel providers – and it makes all the difference!
Indeed, Eurostar successfully transported most of the 215 ParalympicsGB athletes to Paris last summer – and home again, so you know you’ll be in good hands as you travel to France, Belgium, Germany or the Netherlands.

There are, of course, other practical benefits to travelling by Eurostar versus say, taking a plane or a ferry. For instance, travelling to an out-of-town airport or ferry port is usually the most awkward and stressful part of anybody’s travel schedule, so why not lose it? Instead, you can travel from London St. Pancras (served by mainline trains and the London Underground) with far less stress, while also saving time and without having to deal with any airport transfers or sneaky extra fees. Plus, as mentioned, it also joins up with the entire European rail network – including the UK’s, so you could, for instance, travel all the way from Aberdeen to the Continent by rail if you wanted to. (Having said that, once you’ve experienced the journey from London through the tunnel to France, you might start to regard British trains as somewhat basic by comparison to the well-appointed Eurostar fleet.) Again, there’s a joy to experiencing travel by Eurostar trains, which are certainly quick but also smooth, and with plenty of space to stretch out – or to move around the coach as you wish. In fact, Eurostar offers priority seats with that bit more room, as well as spaces for disabled passengers or people travelling with mobility aids and assistance animals. (Naturally, assistance animals are subject to specific requirements and pre-booking, including contacting Eurostar 24 hours in advance to secure a free spot for them to travel, and they’ll need the correct documentation to enter or leave the UK.)

Priority
There are no mealy-mouthed luggage weight limits or finicky bag dimensions to worry about since standard tickets usually include two large suitcases plus hand luggage, quite unlike some airlines. Furthermore, all the other pre-boarding processes seem to be far more relaxed and are certainly more efficient as a result. For instance, forget the silly little airport plastic bags and 100ml liquid limit and enjoy a shorter less time-consuming check-in – of between 45 – 90 minutes. While Eurostar departures gets busy, it’s much smaller in scale to most airports, so you won’t have to stroll miles to your departure gate. Even so, disabled passengers are given priority seating in the departure lounge and board the train via ramps, avoiding the rush of general boarding.
Better still, it’s not only ‘greener’ than other travel options but because you’ll be travelling by rail, your journey is far less likely to be cancelled by rough seas or storms.Eurostar also offers dedicated passenger assistance (Eurostar Assist) to anyone travelling with a disability or reduced mobility, including non-apparent disabilities. Disabled travellers can be met at the London St. Pancras Eurostar terminal and helped with their luggage and to navigate security, passport control and right up to the ramp used for boarding, where train crew will quietly show them to their seats. (Ideally, of course, customers should book the service 24 hours in advance so that staff can be coordinated efficiently, though ad-hoc assistance is sometimes available. NB: staff can only assist you with up to two items of luggage that should not exceed 85cms in length and weigh less than 15kg per item.) It’s also worth booking passenger assistance for the station where you intend to alight from the Eurostar.
Generous

In what feels like an upgrade, wheelchair users pay a fixed price equivalent to a standard class ticket but travel in the more spacious Eurostar Plus or Eurostar Premier coaches (and enjoy a generous, dedicated space near accessible toilets), which include complimentary meals and drinks. (It’s worth checking that the dimensions of your wheelchair or scooter, etc, meet the requirements outlined on the Eurostar website to avoid any last-minute problems.)

A discounted companion ticket fare is available for a companion traveling with a disabled person, ensuring they can sit together to enjoy the journey.

To book assistance, visit:
www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-planning/accessibility

You’ll also find details about assistance at European stations and to make connections with the European rail network if you plan to journey by train beyond the stations served by Eurostar.

You can also phone to discuss requirements on: (+44) (0)3432 186 186
Visit: www.eurostar.com/uk-en

Our journey to France
Our journey started in Nottingham and took us by rail straight to London St. Pancras where we alighted and descended the escalator straight to the Eurostar terminal. It was clear that staff had already spotted my walking stick and Sunflower lanyard and were awaiting the nod to help us out, though our two teenaged boys are pretty useful these days.

Eurostar is always a pleasure to be on as it cuts through the countryside, disappears into the tunnel and emerges in France – which also signals that we’re just 25 minutes away from our destination, Lille.

Right on schedule we arrived in the centre of the city at Gare de Lille-Europe, met up with our French relatives and enjoyed a wonderful break in a beautiful, but often overlooked, region of France. Tom Jamison