International train operator Eurostar is scrapping a major ticket type from March 31, which could impact thousands of British travellers following it’s busiest year yet
Eurostar is scrapping a major ticket type, which will impact thousands of UK passengers.
From March 31, Eurostar tickets to ‘Any Belgian Station’ will cease as the operator has been requested to discontinue the product. The request came from the SNCB and will apply to all rail providers. The ‘Any Belgian Station’ ticket type allows Eurostar passengers to travel from London to Brussels and continue their journey by train to any Belgian destination for an additional fee.
A Eurostar spokesperson said: “The ‘Any Belgian Station’ product will be discontinued at the request of SNCB, with the change taking effect from 31 March 2025. The final travel date for this product will be 14 June 2025.
“Going forward, the ‘Any Belgian Station’ ticket will be replaced by a point-to-point product. This new solution will allow passengers to seamlessly book both their Eurostar and SNCB trains in a single transaction, directly selecting their origin or destination in Belgium via Eurostar’s website. Passengers will then receive their SNCB ticket to connect in Brussels, Liège or Antwerp.
“This update aims to offer clearer and more transparent travel options for our customers, while extending the scope as the product will also cover continental routes. Work is ongoing with SNCB on the development of this new solution, with a launch date still to be confirmed.”
The new point-to-point product will mean that travellers will need to select their final destination in Belgium at the time of purchasing a ticket.
For SNCB, this will help gain specific market knowledge of where travellers are heading. It could also help to increase revenue for SNCB depending on the final Belgian destination, reports Business Traveller.
One angered traveller took to social media platform X and said: “It seems that Eurostar is determined to make life more difficult for rail travellers, rather than offering better integration and a more simplified fare structure!”
The news follows Eurostar’s announcement that it carried a record 19.5 million passengers last year, the highest annual number of passengers in the company’s history.
“Eurostar continued its strong growth in 2024, breaking its own previous passenger records. I would like to thank our customers and recognise the efforts of our teams for this excellent result in the company’s 30th year. Looking ahead, this is further proof of the huge demand for international rail and the great potential of sustainable travel. Eurostar is targeting growth to 30 million passengers and investing in up to 50 new trains as a direct result, with the aim of delivering a unique and exceptional service long into the future,” said Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar.
The London to Paris route grew most, rising by 280,000 passengers. This was closely followed by the London to Brussels route, which rose by 250,000 passengers.
In 2024, Eurostar also relaunched it’s ‘Snap’ for Spontaneous Travellers service, which offers up to 50 per cent off high-speed rail journeys for travellers who have their train details confirmed just 48 hours before their departure. The operator also hopes to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, as a part of its commitment to sustainable travel.
