All aboard

For so long, flying has been considered the only viable option to get around the world. However, once you’re armed with information, knowledge and a train ticket that affords you a stopover in some of Europe’s most loved destinations, you may well change your mind.

Here’s all the information you need to journey to some of Europe’s largest trade shows by train.

IMEX in Frankfurt

Photo by Christian Salow on Unsplash

IMEX in Frankfurt is set to welcome thousands of international exhibitors, buyers, and visitors in May – and the German city is easily reachable by train. There are three trains a day to Frankfurt leaving from London St Pancras International taking just five and a half hours with one change in Brussels for a grand total of £71 return*. How you chose to spend the hours on board is up to you, but the benefit of taking a train with complimentary Wi-Fi is that you’re not losing a working day.

London St Pancras International – Frankfurt (Main) Haupt Bahnhof

Leg one: Monday to Friday there are three trains a day go from London St Pancras to Frankfurt, via Brussels. These leave at 08:55 arriving in Brussels at 15:31, 11:04 in Brussels at 17:40 and 13:04 in Brussels at 18:05. Tickets for the first leg of the journey range from £71 to £81 return for a standard seat and £199 for a return Standard premium seat.

Leg two: Change at Brussels Midi onto an ICE3 train to Frankfurt. There is a 20-minute change time so it’s advisable to familiarise yourself with Brussels Midi station before you start your journey.

Leg three: On schedule with the Eurostar trains from the first leg of the journey, there are three trains you can get from Brussels to Frankfurt: the 12:15 arriving in Frankfurt at 15:31, the 14:25 arriving in Frankfurt at 17:50 and the 18:25 arriving in Frankfurt at 21:31. Ticket for the third leg of the journey range from £30 return for 2nd class and £105 return first class. All these tickets can be booked through Raileurope.com or thetrainline.com.

Frankfurt (Main) Haupt Bahnhof to London St Pancras International

Leg one: Monday to Friday there are three trains a day go from Frankfurt to London St Pancras via Brussels. These leave at 10:26 arriving in Brussels at 13:35, 14:62 arriving in Brussels at 17:35 and 16:28 arriving in Brussels at 19:35. Tickets for the first leg of the journey range from £71 to £81 return for a standard seat and £199 for a return Standard premium seat.

Leg two: Change at Brussels Midi to Eurostar train to London St Pancras International. Similar to the outward journey, there is a 20 to 25-minute change time at Brussels Midi.

Leg three: The Eurostar trains to London St Pancras International leave at 16:00 arriving in London at 17:00, 18:52 arriving in London at 19:57 and the 10:56 arriving in London at 22:00. It’s advisable to book your return Eurostar journey when you book the outward ticket. Booking separately will significantly increase the cost.

Carbon savings compared to flying:
Taking a return train to Frankfurt produces 34.4kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) compared with a return flight to Frankfurt expending 261.8kg of CO2.
Carbon savings: 227.4kg CO2

Frankfurt is home to the European Central Bank. Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash

Photo by Christian Lue on Unsplash

Begin your journey to Frankfurt at St Pancras International. Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

Change trains at Brussels Midi. Photo by Alex Vasey on Unsplash

Photo by Alex Vasey on Unsplash

white and red train in train station during daytime

Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash

IBTM World, Barcelona

The Antoni Gaudí cathedral is an iconic landmark in Barcelona. Photo by Louisa Schaad on Unsplash

Photo by Louisa Schaad on Unsplash

Photo by Anthony DELANOIX on Unsplash

white and yellow train on rail tracks during daytime

Photo by Dylan Burns on Unsplash

Part of the beauty of slow travel is the experiences you can have on journey, be it business or leisure. You can even throw in a client meeting in Paris on the way to IBTM World in November, before your journey continues through the Rhone Valley and with views of the Pyrenees.

London St Pancras International to Barcelona – without Paris stopover

Leg one: Jump on the Eurostar from London St Pancras International at 10:22 arriving at Paris Gare du Nord 13:57.

Leg two: Transfer from Paris Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon. The transfer from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon can either be made by metro on RER line D for two stops taking around 1-15 minutes or via a 25-minute taxi ride.

Leg three: From Gare de Lyon, catch the 15:12 TGV Duplex train to Barcelona Sants arriving at 21:54.

London St Pancras International to Barcelona – with Paris stopover

Leg one: Take the 16:31 Eurostar from London St Pancras International, arriving at Paris Gare du Nord 19:47. Enjoy a night in Paris. The cost of return ticket from London to Paris ranges from £109 for a standard seat to £249 for Standard Premier.

Leg two: The following morning, travel to Gare de Lyon from wherever you’re staying.

Leg three: At Gare de Lyon, jump on the 10:12 RenfeSNCF direct train to Barcelona Sants, arriving at 16:54. This leg of the journey costs around £94 for a return ticket.

Barcelona to London St Pancras International – without a Paris stopover

Depending on which day you leave Barcelona, either on Thursday 1 December – the closing day of IBTM World or Friday 2 December – to give yourself an extra night in Barcelona, will dictate whether you spend a night in Paris on the way back to London. The following journey accounts for an extra night in Barcelona.

Leg one: Leave Barcelona Sants at 10:00 arriving in Paris Gare de Lyon 16:47.

Leg two: Transfer from Gare de Lyon to Gare Du Nord by Metro or Taxi to catch the 19:13 Eurostar to London St Pancras International.

Leg three: The Eurostar will arrive in London at 20:30.

Carbon savings compared to flying:

Taking a return train to Barcelona from London produces 155.8kg of CO2 compared with a return flight from London to Barcelona expending 216kg of CO2.

Carbon savings 61kg CO2.

*Train ticket prices and train times were correct at the time of publication. Carbon calculations were made using Eco Passengers methodology which allows you to search train routes. We only displayed the Carbon Dioxide calculations, which contribute to Green-house-gases and global warming.