VisaHQ’s live-update feed on Sunday, December 28 flagged residual congestion on the Paris–London–Brussels corridor after Boxing Day’s record passenger volumes. Early-morning trains departing Gare du Nord faced 15- to 45-minute delays attributed to “technical issues” with platform allocation and return-train sequencing in the Channel Tunnel.
Eurostar said no trains were cancelled, but it urged travellers to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure. The operator’s app showed check-in queues spilling outside the main hall between 06:00 and 08:00. French border police, who conduct exit checks in the station, ran only six of the ten e-gates because some hardware had been repurposed for EES trials.
![Eurostar Warns of Post-Christmas Delays Out of Paris Gare du Nord]()
Travellers navigating this busy corridor can also use VisaHQ to verify whether they need additional documentation when crossing from the Schengen Area into the United Kingdom and back, particularly once the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes fully operational. The platform’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) provides real-time guidance, application support, and courier options for visas and passports, helping corporate and leisure passengers avoid last-minute surprises while borders are under pressure.
Corporate travel managers should note that Eurostar’s flexible-ticket inventory is close to zero until January 2. Employees missing their booked slot may have to purchase new fares at last-minute prices, potentially breaching travel-policy caps. Eurostar says it will waive change fees only if delays exceed 60 minutes.
With air-traffic controllers threatening New Year’s strikes, the rail link remains the preferred alternative to short-haul flights, but capacity will stay tight. Firms are advised to stagger travel dates or consider daytime Thalys services via Brussels for non-urgent trips.
Eurostar said no trains were cancelled, but it urged travellers to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure. The operator’s app showed check-in queues spilling outside the main hall between 06:00 and 08:00. French border police, who conduct exit checks in the station, ran only six of the ten e-gates because some hardware had been repurposed for EES trials.
Travellers navigating this busy corridor can also use VisaHQ to verify whether they need additional documentation when crossing from the Schengen Area into the United Kingdom and back, particularly once the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) becomes fully operational. The platform’s France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) provides real-time guidance, application support, and courier options for visas and passports, helping corporate and leisure passengers avoid last-minute surprises while borders are under pressure.
Corporate travel managers should note that Eurostar’s flexible-ticket inventory is close to zero until January 2. Employees missing their booked slot may have to purchase new fares at last-minute prices, potentially breaching travel-policy caps. Eurostar says it will waive change fees only if delays exceed 60 minutes.
With air-traffic controllers threatening New Year’s strikes, the rail link remains the preferred alternative to short-haul flights, but capacity will stay tight. Firms are advised to stagger travel dates or consider daytime Thalys services via Brussels for non-urgent trips.
