Eurostar plans to end direct train service between London and Disneyland Paris.
The company announced that it will suspend the route from June 5 next year.
It said it needed to focus on “core routes” such as London-Paris and London-Brussels as it recovered from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and oversaw plans by the European Union to tighten immigration rules. rice field.
A direct train between London St. Pancras International and Marne La Vallée (next to Disneyland Paris east of the French capital) takes just 2 hours and 24 minutes.
They are a family favorite and have been in operation since 1996, barring a temporary hiatus during the pandemic.
Due to the end of service, passengers will have to change trains in Lille or Paris.
New rules for visitors to the EU coming into force next year, which will require arrivals from out-of-block and non-Schengen areas to be fingerprint scanned, photographed and registered in a database, will apply to UK visitors. increase.
A Eurostar spokesperson said: “We have decided that there will be no direct Disney flights between London and Marne La Vallée in the summer of 2023.
“While we continue to recover financially from the pandemic and monitor the development of the proposed EU immigration system, we will continue to do so so that we can continue to provide the high level of service and experience that our customers have rightly come to expect. You should concentrate on your core route.
“Passengers can continue to enjoy high-speed rail travel between London and Disneyland Paris via Paris or Lille.
“This decision will apply from 5 June 2023. Tickets have not yet been sold after this date and will not affect bookings for existing customers.
“We will revisit our 2024 options within the next year.”
Julia Lo Bue-Said, Chief Executive Officer of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of over 700 UK travel agents, said:
“Bringing young people and families to France’s famous parks has been a highlight for thousands of British families for many years.
“Eurostar has suggested that they made this decision based on the logistical implications of Brexit, which does not surprise me.
“The reality is that Brexit has made it impossible for Britons to move freely around Europe, robbing them of the seamless, frictionless travel we all enjoyed before leaving the EU.
“Given that the UK is an important source market for Disneyland Paris, it would be pragmatic to allow Britons to use electronic gates upon entry, similar to what Spain has implemented at some of Spain’s airports. I hope it will require fresh thinking and practical solutions.”
It was revealed last week that Eurostar will not resume service at any of its Kent stations (Ashford and Ebbsfleet) until at least 2025.
