The Eurostar is still one of the most efficient means of getting to and from Paris from the UK. However, it’s not as good as it could be, especially for the UK business traveler compared to our colleagues from Europe. Here’s why…
One of the main reasons business travelers choose a particular route or method of travel is because they are business people, and need to maximize the value of the time spent traveling. This implies the ability to get work done on the journey. (Mobile business travelers are typically the worst users of applications that need always on connectivity, but are avid users of good cloud solutions.)
So how does this affect the Eurostar for UK travelers? Whilst there is free wifi access at St Pancras International, this is no different to a typical airport lounge. You face the biggest challenge when the journey starts. You need to make sure that you’ve downloaded enough of your data to keep you busy before you leave, as almost immediately the train enters long segments of tunnel, precluding mobile access (and any potential on-train WiFi deployment, unless particular magic is utilised). Once you then hit the surface again, there are still frequent tunnels and shielding by hills and cuttings (particularly of the Orange mobile signal) that means that you have very intermittent access during the time until Ashford, and the tunnel itself (again, this disrupts mobile signals!) In fact, 25% of the High Speed One rail route is in tunnels, have a look at the facts shown on their interactive map.
Once on the other side, although you are moving through a lot of countryside with good mobile signal, you’re going get stung for the mobile roaming charges (at least until the European Union get mobile data charges sorted out, although this thought only appears to crop up each summer, perhaps because this is when MEPs suddenly notice it impacts them.)
For those coming the opposite direction, there is WiFi in the Gare du Nord, but if you’ve already got an SFR WiFi pass (or one of their partners) you’re OK, on the move on the train you’ve got you local providers mobile for a good couple of hours, until the Channel Tunnel. Then to all intents and purposes, you only have an hour without service for the various tunnels, until you are at St Pancras International, and you then need to start spending on calls and data.
It appears that it is altogether better for the French and not the British for the Eurostar business traveller using data on the move.
