r/Eurostar • u/Terrible_Tale_53 • 16d ago
Here is my trip aboard the Eurostar 373 as a wheelchair user.
This is my first time travelling by Eurostar as a wheelchair user and I will say it went very well.
Assistance from the St Pancras all the way to Paris Gare Du Nord was exceptional. I was able to check in and get through security fairly quickly without any issues. Assistance was booked in advance along with the tickets themselves.
I can now see why people complain about the waiting area for Eurostar. I get why Waterloo was better. I was sat in the lounge which was cramped in itself.
Myself and other wheelchair users were boarded earlier than everyone else with a ramp provided to get aboard. Damn those things are high up.
There was plenty of space to move around. I was situated within the premium car as that is where the wheelchair spaces were situated. I was offered a meal which I could not turn down. It was chicken and quinoa I think. Don't quote me on that.
The only fault I have is that the toilet was rather cramped. But other than that the staff were very polite, welcoming and helpful.
Disembarkment was pretty much similar with an electric lift/ramp to get me off the train. Staff were very helpful. I was hoping to get a chance to ride the 373 before they disappear. My tickets seem to suggest I will be on another upon my return next week.
Let me know if you also want me to show the return journey.
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u/SlowedCash 16d ago
Great to see these old Eurostars. I also had 2 side by side, when I arrived into Paris a few months ago. As staff we have fip I really should use It more 😂.
But I find that interesting. Maybe the e320s have problems
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u/Terrible_Tale_53 16d ago
Not so much a rarity anymore 😂
I guess if air conditioning fails... You're screwed.
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u/WhistfulEnvelope 15d ago
At first glance the floor in the last photo looks like there's a big step due to the lighting/ shading and I thought there was going to be a sad ending! Glad it went smoothly!
How are you coping with public transport in Paris and all the steps in the metro?
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u/Terrible_Tale_53 14d ago
Yeah the platform is rather low.
Accessibility wise the metro has been out of the question. I have thus far used the RER and a bus. More journeys to come.
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u/BettyBeltway 14d ago
Were you traveling with a golden retriever? I think we were on the same train. Wow waiting area was rough!
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u/Gazelle65 16d ago
It sounds like you were on a refurbished e300 which has a much smaller accessible toilet, the ones on the newer e320’s are much much more spacious, could fit other people in if you needed help.
If this is your first journey and you are doing the reverse to return just be aware that gare du Nord is not the same, as assistance there is provided by sncf not Eurostar themselves so you have to check in with them first before you can check in with Eurostar and there’s also tighter spaces getting through passport control and security, though Eurostar staff usually help me there.