Eurostar Announces Early Sale for Provence Service

LONDON, January 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Eurostar has announced that its popular direct summer services to Avignon will open for sale earlier than usual, available from 20 December 2011. The early sale is to cope with traveller demand for its services to the stunning Provence region of France.

Holidaymakers are advised to book early to avoid disappointment for the weekly direct services that will run from 7 July to 1 September 2012. With direct journey times of less than six hours from St Pancras International in London and Ashford International in Kent, the summer service is a favourite with travellers and tickets sell fast every year. Customers can take advantage of these Eurostar deals  by boarding a Eurostar service in the UK, then travelling non-stop through the magnificent French countryside, directly to Avignon in the heart of Provence.

Nick Mercer, commercial director for Eurostar commented: "Our direct Avignon summer services grow in popularity each year, as people across the country see how easy and enjoyable it is to travel across Europe by high-speed rail. By opening sales to Avignon earlier than usual we are giving customers even more flexibility when planning their summer trip to Provence. Journeys with Eurostar avoid the summer scramble at the airports and increasingly, passengers see their journey as part of the holiday itself."

Direct Eurostar tickets are available in both Standard class Standard Premier. If direct services are full, Eurostar offers connecting services all year round that arrive into Avignon TGV station, which is located just outside the town centre.

Tickets for the Avignon direct summer service and for connecting services all year round are available from http://www.eurostar.com, by calling 08432 186 186, at Eurostar stations or from travel agents.

About Eurostar:

Eurostar is the high-speed train service linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Paris, Brussels, Lille, Calais, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps. The company allows its users to take advantage of cheap tickets to Paris on the London to Paris train, and also offers services such as the London to Brussels train and services to Holland - allowing holidaymakers convenient travel whilst on Amsterdam city breaks.

Eurostar was established in 1994 as a partnership between three railway companies: SNCF, SNCB and LCR (London and Continental Railways). On 1 September 2010, Eurostar became a single, unified corporate entity owned by three shareholders: SNCF, SNCB and LCR.

The current Eurostar train was first introduced into service in 1994 carrying 750 passengers and operating at speeds of up to 300kph. Since then, the fleet of 28 trains has carried more than 115 million passengers between London and the Continent. Following their refurbishment these trains will continue to form a core part of the Eurostar fleet.

The Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel:

Since 2001 the Ashden awards have been supporting sustainability projects across the globe and now they're working with Eurostar to promote sustainable travel

As part of the Tread Lightly programme to cut carbon and get people thinking differently about their journeys, Eurostar has launched the Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel.

PR contact:
Aude Criqui
Senior Press Officer
Eurostar Press Office
Times House
Regent Quarter
Bravingtons Walk
London
N1 9AW
+44(0)20-7843-5405
http://www.eurostar.com