Lille-Europe station explained

Lille-Europe
Symbol Location:	fr
Symbol:	rail
Symbol Location2:	be
Symbol2:	rail
Symbol Location3:	eurostar
Address:	Lille, Hauts-de-France
Country:	France
Line:	TGV Eurostar Thalys
Platform:	4
Tracks:	6
Architect:	Jean-Marie Duthilleul
Code:	IATA XDB
Opened:	1994
Passengers:	7,195,331^[1]
Services Collapsible:	yes

Lille-Europe station (French: Gare de Lille-Europe) is a SNCF railway station in Lille, France, on the LGV Nord high-speed railway. The station is primarily used for international Eurostar and long-distance SNCF TGV services, although some high-speed regional trains also call at the station.The station was built in 1993 to be used as a through station for trains between the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands, as well as French TGV services, except those coming from Paris, which normally terminate at Lille-Flandres station. There is a 400m (1,300feet) walking distance between the two stations, which are also connected by the Lille Metro and Lille tramway.

Connections

For travellers from the United Kingdom to destinations not served directly by Eurostar, connections are available here on trains towards Disneyland Paris, Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Lyon, Valence, then Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille St. Charles (and also on to Cannes and Nice); and Nîmes, Montpellier and Perpignan.

After the 'Additional Protocol to the Sangatte Protocol' was signed by France and the United Kingdom on 29 May 2000, juxtaposed controls were set up in the station. Eurostar passengers travelling to the UK clear exit checks from the Schengen Area (carried out by the French Border Police) as well as UK entry checks (conducted by the UK Border Force) in the station before boarding their train.^[2]

Train services

The following services call at Lille:

• International high-speed services (Eurostar Blue) London – Lille – Brussels – Amsterdam

• International high-speed services (Eurostar Blue) London – Lille – Paris
• High-speed services (TGV) Calais – Lille – Paris
• High-speed services (TGV) (Rang-du-Fliers -) Boulogne – Calais – Lille – Paris
• High-speed services (TGV) Dunkerque – Lille – Paris
• High-speed services (TGV) Lille – Aéroport CDG – Lyon – Marseille
• High-speed services (TGV) Lille – Aéroport CDG – Lyon – Nîmes – Montpellier
• High-speed services (TGV) Lille – Aéroport CDG – Tours – Poitiers – Bordeaux
• High-speed services (TGV) Lille – Aéroport CDG – Le Mans – Rennes
• High-speed services (TGV) Lille – Aéroport CDG – Le Mans – Angers – Nantes
• High-speed services (TGV) Lille – Arras – Aéroport CDG – Lyon – Nîmes – Montpellier
• High-speed services (TGV) Lille – Arras – Aéroport CDG – Lyon – Marseille
• International high-speed services (TGV) Brussels – Lille – Aéroport CDG – Lyon – Marseille
• International high-speed services (TGV) Brussels – Lille – Aéroport CDG – Lyon – Nîmes – Montpellier – Perpignan
• High-speed regional services (TER GV) Dunkirk – Lille
• High-speed regional services (TER GV) Rang-du-Fliers – Boulogne – Calais – Lille

Ouibus

Since 23 July 2012, SNCF's international coach network, iDBUS (now BlaBlaBus), serves Lille Europe.

Coach services from Lille are:

• Paris – Lille
• Paris – Lille – Brussels
• Paris – Lille – Amsterdam
• Paris – Lille – London

See also

• Lille-Flandres station

External links

50.6394°N 3.0753°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fréquentation en gares. SNCF. 3 May 2019.
2. Web site: Lords Hansard text for 16 March 2001 (210316-05) . Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Lords.