Eurostar Inaugurates New Services to Lyon, Marseille and Avignon

Eurostar has launched its new year-round service that transports passengers from London to Lyon, Marseille and Avignon.

Travellers can now speed across the French countryside to reach the gastronomy, lavender fields and sunshine of these new destinations, now within easy reach of the heart of London or Ashford.

A smooth journey takes travellers to the centre of Lyon, the French capital of gastronomy in just over four and a half hours, the bright lights and sunny coastline of Marseille in just over six hours or the sunny Provencal lavender fields in under six hours.

"We're happy to transport our very first Eursotar travellers to Lyon and the South of France today, and after registering strong advance ticket sales, we look forward to greeting many more passengers in the coming months," said Nick Mercer, commercial director, Eurostar.

"This new service from Eurostar brings the gastronomy, landscape, culture and art of the regions closer to the UK, with an effortless, delightful journey available all year round."

Passengers travelling backwards from France to the UK can board their train without being required to arrive 30 minutes before departure, because check-in, security and immigration checks will take place at Lille Europe, where customers step off the train before resuming the journey to Ashford and London.

Lille Europe has been recently re-opened after undergoing an extension and refurbishment to ready it for greeting passengers from Lyon and the south of France.