Train station transfers: 50 stations

High-speed rail has replaced many short flights, and a station arrival needs the same planning as an airport one. Each station page explains where cars can stop, where the chauffeur meets you and how long the drive to the airports and business districts takes.

Why rail arrivals need planning

High-speed rail now carries a large share of city-to-city business travel in Europe and East Asia. A traveller stepping off a Eurostar at London St Pancras, a TGV at Paris Gare de Lyon or a Shinkansen at Tokyo Station arrives in the middle of a dense city, often at a station with limited space for private cars. The chauffeur has to be at the right exit, at the right time, with somewhere legal to stop.

Where cars can stop

Large stations usually have a designated drop-off and pickup area, a taxi rank that private hire cars cannot use and one or more car parks. The standard pickup is at the station's designated pickup area or car park; a meet on the platform or at the ticket barrier with a name board is an add-on, and add-ons are only available in selected locations. Station parking, where the car has to use it, is charged at actual cost. Each station page explains which exits and pickup points apply there.

Timing the car to the train

Give the train number and the scheduled arrival time when you book. Trains are generally more punctual than flights, but delays happen, so tell dispatch if you are running late; standard pickups include 15 minutes of waiting, then 15-minute blocks. For departures, allow time for security and ticket checks: Eurostar passengers pass through passport control and security before boarding, which is why the operator publishes check-in times on eurostar.com.

Major rail corridors in the network

Choosing a vehicle at a station

Rail travellers usually carry less than air travellers, so a sedan suits most arrivals. Groups arriving for a trade fair or a conference, on the other hand, often travel on the same train, and one Sprinter Van at the station is simpler than several cars at the kerb.

Station to airport, and airport to station

Many rail bookings are really connections. A traveller lands at Frankfurt, takes the car to Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof for an ICE to Cologne, or arrives at Zurich Hauptbahnhof and continues by car to a mountain resort the train does not reach. Book both legs on one reservation so dispatch can see the connection. A family with large cases, or a team travelling together, fits better in an SUV or a Sprinter Van. Book the car with the train details, or see intercity transfers when the car is a better option than the train.