NEW YORK -- The
Eurostar high-speed rail service between London, Paris and Brussels
will replace its first-class coaches with new, separate cars for
business and leisure travelers beginning in September.
The railway will
phase out the designation first class on Sept. 1, debuting instead
new, segregated Business Premier and Leisure Select travel classes.
Meanwhile, standard-class cars will continue to seat both business
and leisure customers.
Nick Mercer,
commercial director of London-based Eurostar, said in a statement
that the class category changes were based on customer
research.
Surveys showed ...
that business-class travelers paying a premium for first-class
flexible tickets prefer to travel in an environment more conducive
to work ... [while] leisure travelers ... felt less relaxed when
they were among business travelers working on laptops and
discussing business matters on cell phones, Mercer said.
Completely
refundable and exchangeable Business Premier tickets will cost $375
one way, and will include exclusive use of the executive lounges in
all three hub cities; fast-track check-in counters; and two
breakfast options -- express or full service.
Leisure Select fares
start at $190 roundtrip for non-refundable/non-exchangeable
tickets; by comparison, fares in standard class start at $90
roundtrip.
Both Business
Premier and Leisure Select passengers enjoy more spacious seating,
power outlets for laptops and other devices, at-seat meal service
and complimentary newspapers and magazines.
Despite a weak
dollar, most U.S. passengers traveling on Eurostar this year are
opting for first class tickets, according to top North American
rail distributor Rail Europe Group in White Plains, N.Y.
Fabrice Morel,
president and CEO of Rail Europe Group, said 53% of Eurostar
bookings at constituent companies Rail Europe and DER have been for
first class seats, up from 48% at this time last year. And, overall
Eurostar sales through April were up 15% over the same period in
2004.
To contact the
reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to Kenneth Kiesnoski
at [email protected].