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Milano / Milan / Mailand to London by train
How to take a thrilling high speed rail journey Milan to London
Despite the reduced Eurostar timetable in response to the pandemic, it is still not only possible, but entirely feasible to make a journey by train during the day from Milano to London
The timings allow plenty of time to cross Paris, so you won't be rushing from the onward connection against the clock.
What isn't now an option is taking an overnight train from Milano and then a Eurostar on from Paris, as the night train between Italy and Paris has now been withdrawn.
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Routes
Taking a combination of Italian Frecce trains and Eurostar trains
Journey Summary
from 11hr 5min
Daily
Travel Information
Trenitalia has introduced its top tier Frecciarossa 1000 trains to the Milan to Paris route and the early morning departure, which is typically scheduled to leave Milano Centrale at 06:25, has an easily timed daily connection into the Eurostar which is usually scheduled to depart from Paris at 15:13.
You will need to make the transfer between the Gare De Lyon, where the TGV will arrive, and the Gare Du Nord, from where the Eurostar will depart, but will have around 1hr 50 mins to do so:
The alternative combination of TGV + Eurostar trains
TGV trains had been the only services on the Milano to Paris route and the morning departure at 06:00 also connects into the same Eurostar departure on from Paris, it is due into the Gare De Lyon less than 15 mins before the Frecce train will be due to arrive there, so it connects into the same train on to London.
Though the TGV departs from Milano Porta Garibaldi station and not from Milano Centrale.
Prices can be compared against on the combination of Frecce and Eurostar trains on RailEurope and Trainline.
Though on at weekends and on Mon to Friday on some weeks, it is possible to depart from Milano Porta Garibaldi on a TGV departing at 12:10 and connect in Paris into a Eurostar.
The connection is into the final Eurostar of the day on from the Gare Du Nord, but the usual timetable allows more than two hours to make the transfer across Paris.
This later TGV typically has a connection available at Torino Porta Susa from the first Frecce train of the day on the Napoli - Roma - Firenze - Torino route; but connections from these cities to London in a single day by train aren't available on Monday to Saturday.
Change trains in: Paris
1 or 2 x optimum connections per day
Tickets
Book Early And Save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead of the travel date.
Set off from Milano before 06:30 and book this end-to-end journey on Trainline or RailEurope, then IF the train from Milano does happen to arrive in Paris too late to make the booked connection -into the Eurostar, you can transfer your tickets free of charge to a subsequent departure at the Eurostar ticket desk in the Gare Du Nord.
But this won't be an option if you book separate tickets for each train.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | ||
| Rail Europe |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: Paris Gare de Lyon
**This train also calls in: ** Torino*
These Frecce trains share both the most scenic part of the route, the section of the journey through the Alps between Torino and Chambery; and the high-speed line between Lyon and Paris, but in contrast to the TGV trains:
- Once they reach the Milan suburbs they race to Torino at up to 280 km/h on the high speed lines between the two cities.
- They divert off the direct route in order to travel through central Lyon, so that they can call at Part-Dieu station.
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Final Destination: London St Pancras
Some trains also call at: Ashford International or Ebbsfleet International (these station calls are currently suspended_
Note that London is in a different time zone to mainland Europe, it is one hour behind, so when looking at a timetable the journey will look as though it's an hour shorter.
Checking-in:
Eurostar requests that holders of Standard Class And Standard Premier tickets check-in a minimum of 30mins before departure, and 45mins before departure on weekends and holidays.
It is up to you to allow time to pass through check-in and board the train.
If you have a Business Premier ticket, Eurostar recommends that you only have to check-in 10 mins before departure.
At Gare Du Nord the check in and waiting area for the Eurostar (the 'Hall Du Londres') is at an upper level, above the main concourse.
The access to this upper level is some distance from the voie/platforms/tracks that the Eurostars depart from.
The escalators leading up to Eurostar departures are located at the rear wall of the station building, on the opposite side of the concourse to voies/platforms/tracks 14 - 15.
It's not a scenic journey, but it is a journey with distinct phases and highlights:
1: There is little to see from the high speed lines in France, particularly after Lille (the trains to Paris will rush through Lille Europe station).
2: The train will slow down as it approaches The Channel Tunnel.
Announcements are no longer made that the train is about to enter the tunnel.
The journey through the tunnel will take around 22 mins.
3: As the train nears Ebbsfleet International station, comes the scenic highlight of the journey - the crossing of the River Medway on a high bridge.
4: After Ebbsfleet International (which can only be seen from the right) the train will enter a tunnel under the River Thames.
As the train exits this tunnel, from the left, the Queen Elizabeth II road bridge can be seen.
5: For most of the final 8 -10 mins of the journey the trains use tunnels to enter London (Stratford International station is located between the tunnels).
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