One-way ticket Paris-London
7h. At a time when Paris-Nord station is still calm and serene, there is already a certain amount of excitement in the queue at the Eurostar terminal located on the 1st floor of the illustrious building designed by the architect Hittorff in 1861. I join the queue of identity checks carried out by the PAF, which finally seems quicker than the line of automatic machines where you have to scan your biometric passport. A line reserved for Business Premier passengers However, it does save a few seconds for the second check carried out by the British officers. I then had my bag X-rayed and went through the security gate. The whole process took just a few minutes.
7h10. Twenty or so steps down and I'm at the Business LoungeThe armchairs and sofas are already very full. Everyone is stocking up on the day's newspapers and French and British magazines, all of which are very CSP+. Although the circular bar is deserted at this early hour - although some passengers claim never to have seen it open - passengers are crowding around the buffet area. However, the announcement of our train's imminent departure sent everyone rushing to the platform.
7h30. After climbing up the Eurostar train to reach the Business Premier, a hostess was waiting for me in front of the footboard to check my ticket. She invited me to pour myself a coffee from the Lavazza machine on the trolley on the train platform. I then settled into my seat, seat 31. A small annoyance, an announcement specifies that the WiFi does not work on this train.
7h43. The Eurostar sets off on time. After crossing the Paris suburbs, it gains speed from theRoissy-CDG airport. The new trains are characterised by their design and purity, contrasting with the round, soft environment of the old trains. Alstom trainsets. The seats, in particular, are particularly streamlined and equipped with an adjustable headrest, a small window, a glass holder, a electrical socket and a USB port to recharge small electronic devices.
7h50. After handing out an Oshibori towel, the hostesses start serving breakfast, which includes a choice of omelette, peach and apricot sauce or smoked ham and cheese, a cereal roll, fruit juice and a bottle of water. Tea and coffee follow. The tray takes up all the space on the table, leaving little room to work. A situation not experienced by my two neighbours who occupy a square for 4 travellers. I take the opportunity to check and reply to my emails on my mobile despite a Intermittent 4G. After one o'clock, the tray is served after a final distribution of croissants and hot drinks.
9h. Arrival at London St Pancras International. Ignoring the vibrations of the train, the rest of the journey was spent in a studious atmosphere, with everyone bent over their morning paper, laptop or working on their powerpoint presentation with its pretty growth curves, to be presented later in the day.
The return journey from London to Paris
18h01. Departure from London after an express visit to lounge on the right of the St Pancras International Eurostar terminal. It's best to choose the quieter area on the first floor. The long layout of the Lounge on the ground floor is not the most practical for getting around and enjoying a refreshment at this busy time of day, when business travellers begin their return transhumance to Paris. This time I'm sitting in seat 21. The Business Premier coach is equipped with two two-seater partitioned cabins to offer more privacy for confidential business discussions. Two passengers asked the ticket inspector to take one of them.
18h30. The ritual of service resumes. A glass of Piper Heidsieck brut champagne is served as an aperitif with the meal menu prepared by Raymond Blancthe French chef in charge of the culinary offer in this premium class. And the result is rather qualitative. The starter consists of a salad of artichokes, peppers and goat's cheese, which is quickly swallowed. I then opt for the chicken stuffed with oregano and olives with ratatouille and sautéed potatoes, rather than the smoked trout and fennel and walnut salad, or the light option of bulgur salad with kale, soya beans and grilled courgettes. A dark chocolate and passion fruit terrine rounds off this meal, which makes you forget about the lunchtime sandwich you quickly swallowed between two appointments.
21h. The journey of 2h15 was going even faster than on the outward journey. A hostess offered to book me a taxi, which I politely declined, preferring my good old rattling metro line 11. I've barely had time to put the computer away when the Eurostar slips under the huge glass roof of Paris-Nord station.
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