From London to Berlin: A Train Journey
Hello there, and welcome to another video. Today I'm in the center of London, the capital of the United Kingdom, quite literally the center of the capital of the United Kingdom, Parliament Square. And a very noisy Parliament Square it is too! Probably not the best place to do a video intro. In this video, I'll explore how we get from here to the center of the capital of Germany, Berlin, all by train. So stick with me for this video, and we'll explore the route between London and Berlin.
There is only one train that currently crosses from the United Kingdom to mainland Europe, and that is the Eurostar. For passengers, the Eurostar only departs from London Saint Pancras International. Sadly, there is no direct train from London to Berlin, so I will show you the route I used, which coincidentally is the quickest and most direct route, but not the cheapest. This will mean three journey legs and two train changes on the way. Let's look at these.
The Route
Eurostar from London to Brussels-Midi station
Change to Deutsche Bahn IC15 route to Cologne
Change to ICE 559 to Berlin Hauptbahnhof
Now, I know what you're thinking. All this routing sounds complicated. Don't worry. Use a train online booking app such as DB or Trainline. Now, I use Trainline, which does all the planning for you; all the ticketing and payments are electronic. Nothing to worry about. All you need is your phone to travel.
London St Pancras International Station
We start our adventure here, in London St Pancras International Station in central London. This is one of the UK's most prestigious and modern railway stations, so it's hard to remember that in the mid-1980s, this station was derelict and awaiting demolition. However, in 2007, an 800 million pound upgrade to all the Victorian-era brickwork was fused with modern 21st-century architecture and technology. You'll get the impression that this is a mix of a rail transport hub, shopping mall, and fine-dining restaurant district. Personified possibly by this nine-meter tall, 20-tonne bronze sculpture, known as "The Meeting Place," it is located at the far end of the terminus overlooking the Eurostar platforms. Created by British sculptor Paul Day, commissioned by Eurostar.
The Eurostar departure terminal is located on the lower concourse of the station. But tonight, I've only come down here to look at the info board because, as you can see, my train does not depart until 06:16 hrs in the morning with a check-in time of 04:40 hrs, which is pretty horrific! So I'll let this amateur pianist play you out while I head off to my hotel for the night. I'm not going far though, as I'll be staying in the five-star St Pancras Renaissance Hotel located on the station itself and about four minute's walk from the Eurostar terminal.
Eurostar Departure
Good morning! Oh my god, it's early! It's 4:30 a.m. here, and here we are overlooking the shiny Eurostars waiting to leave for the continent for the day. Now the reason I've started this early for two reasons. Firstly, the Eurostar will not be as crowded at this time, and secondly, and importantly, it's the cheapest train.
This is the entrance to the Eurostar departure terminal before the people show up and before the mayhem starts! I've got some important advice for you here. If you've never used Eurostar, arrive precisely 90 minutes before your train departure time. There's no point coming any earlier than that because the security guards will not allow you to join the queue earlier than 90 minutes. It can take between 30 and 45 minutes in the line to clear security and immigration. Departure gates are closed for your train 30 minutes before departure. These gates are here in front of you, not the train doors. You've still got to get through immigration and customs. Thirty minutes or later, and you're not getting on your train.
For obvious reasons, I can't film this next part, but the departure gates are automatic, and you'll need your ticket QR code either electronically on your phone or a printed ticket to scan to get through. Remembering you must present this at least.
The Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel, one of the engineering marvels of the modern world, is currently the world's second-longest undersea tunnel. However, some people have a phobia of traveling through it. I once traveled this route with a terrified female friend who was afraid of being stuck on a train deep under the ocean.
If it's your first time on the Eurostar, don't expect anything dramatic when entering the tunnel. There is no warning, and suddenly your windows will go dark. The Channel Tunnel opened in 1994 and is 50 kilometers (31 miles) long. The traveling time on the Eurostar through the tunnel is around 25 minutes.
Nervous tunnel travelers can rest assured that the Channel Tunnel has three separate tunnels: a north-running tunnel, a south-running tunnel, and a central service/emergency tunnel, with cross-passage escape routes every 400 meters. The tunnel sits in solid rock hundreds of feet below the sea, not on the seabed.
After about 25 minutes under the sea, traveling 99 miles per hour, you will depart the tunnel as undramatically as you entered it. From the French tunnel portal, you will transit through the French countryside for about 50 minutes before reaching Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
Brussels Midi Station
Upon arrival at Brussels Midi station, you will wait an hour before your next train. This is an excellent opportunity to explore the station or grab a coffee. Signs and announcements at Brussels Midi station are also in English, so language should not be a barrier.
When looking for your connecting train, remember it will be listed by its final destination, not the station you're traveling to. Also, sometimes the IC number is omitted on the departure boards, making it more challenging to locate your train.
ICE Train to Cologne
From Brussels Midi, you will board an ICE train to Cologne. Booking your seat when traveling intercity on the continent is recommended. The ICE trains vary in quality, but booking a seat ensures you won't have to hunt for a vacancy in the carriage.
The journey between Brussels Midi and Cologne is one hour and 50 minutes. On the ICE train, there is a restaurant car where you can order food for delivery to your seat via the train's WiFi and website.
Cologne Hauptbahnhof
Upon arrival in Cologne, you will have a short break to have lunch outside the famous Cologne Cathedral. Ensure to disembark with all your luggage and possessions, as ICE trains do not wait long in the stations.
ICE Train to Berlin
The final leg of the journey is from Cologne to Berlin. The ICE train to Berlin takes approximately 4 hours and 27 minutes, with several stops. The final destination for this train is Berlin Ost Bahnhof, but you will get off at Berlin Hbf, the penultimate stop on the line.
The ICE train to Berlin may be slightly older than the previous train, but it still provides a decent way to spend the remaining hours of your journey. The first-class seating in this older train is more densely packed than the newer train's.
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