NEW QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS HIT EUROSTAR HARD
The sudden imposition of a 14-day coronavirus quarantine for travellers from France on 15 August (travellers from Belgium and the Netherlands were already subject to this requirement) has led the number of passengers using Eurostar services to fall again. Services had previously ramped up to eight train pairs between London and Paris in July but by early September this number had been halved. The operator has confirmed it will not restore calls at Ebbsfleet or Ashford International stations before 2022 and will continue to operate a reduced timetable into next year.
The sudden announcement of the quarantine restriction led to large numbers of British tourists trying to return home in a 24-hour period, with both Eurotunnel shuttle and Eurostar services briefly full to capacity. The French Government said it would introduce reciprocal measures for travellers from the UK, which will do nothing to encourage those tourists or business travellers willing to suffer the inconvenience of quarantine on return.
Eurostar has announced that direct services from Amsterdam to London will begin on 26 October, although if the current quarantine rules continue to apply that…
