At the train station

TravelerThis photo shows the Eurostar departure area at Gare du Nord in Paris—a familiar scene for travelers heading from France to London via the Channel Tunnel. ⸻ 🛂 What’s Happening Here: You’re in the departure queue for Eurostar, going through the pre-boarding procedures, which include: 1. Security screening (like at airports) 2. French exit passport control 3. UK border control (yes, in Paris—since the UK is outside Schengen) 4. Then you enter the departure lounge and wait for boarding ⸻ ✳️ What to Know for Next Time: • Arrive early: At least 90 minutes before departure is strongly recommended. Lines can get very long. • Priority boarding (available with Business Premier or certain passes) lets you skip much of the wait. • Peak times: Mid-morning and late afternoon trains tend to be busiest. • Facilities: After clearing controls, the lounge includes shops, restrooms, seating, and limited refreshments. ⸻

TravelerYou’re not confused — what you experienced is actually exactly how it goes on the Eurostar route between Paris and London! Here’s a breakdown of what likely happened: ⸻ 🔄 What Happens During the Train Ride 🗼 1. Leaving Paris • As the train departs Gare du Nord, it runs above ground for a short time through the northern suburbs of Paris. 🚇 2. French Tunnel Sections • Before reaching the Channel Tunnel, the train goes through several French tunnels, especially as it nears Calais. These are shorter tunnels used to reduce noise and visual disruption in urban/rural areas. 🌅 3. Brief Open-Air Segment • Right before entering the Channel Tunnel (a.k.a. the Chunnel), there’s often a brief stretch above ground where you might see fields or countryside. • That’s probably the moment you remember “popping up.” 🕳 4. The Channel Tunnel • You then enter the Channel Tunnel itself, which is the longest continuous tunnel portion—about 20 minutes under the English Channel. • It’s entirely underground (underwater actually), dark outside the windows. 🏞 5. England – Similar Pattern • Upon exiting the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, UK, you’re above ground for a bit. • Then there are a few more tunnels as the train travels toward London, especially once you get closer to the city. ⸻ 🔍 So in short: • Yes, you did go underground multiple times. • Only one of those tunnels was the Channel Tunnel — the others were standard overland tunnels in France and the UK. • That brief glimpse of daylight in between was likely the Calais region before diving into the Channel Tunnel.

TravelerYou’re at London St Pancras International Station in this photo — the UK terminal for the Eurostar train. This iconic arched glass-and-steel roof dates back to the Victorian era and is part of what makes St Pancras one of the most beautiful railway stations in Europe. And yes — if you took the 11:31 Eurostar train, you would have arrived at Gare du Nord in Paris roughly 2 hours and 15 minutes later, after going through the Chunnel and experiencing those brief transitions between underground and overground you mentioned.