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Flights, trains and ferries - what transport services are running to France?

The Local France
The Local France - [email protected]
Flights, trains and ferries - what transport services are running to France?
All photos: AFP

As France lifts its travel restrictions (at least for travel within Europe) transport companies are increasing services. Here's a look at what is running.

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France reopened its borders to travel from within Europe on June 15th and since then transport companies have been gradually increasing services as demand rises.

Travel into France from any country in the EU or he Schengen zone is now completely unrestricted, with the exception of the UK.

The UK has imposed a 14-day quarantine on all arrivals, including those from France.

In response France has imposed a quarantine on arrivals from the UK, but this is voluntary and will not attract enforcement or fines. There are also quite a few exemptions.

READ ALSO Who will be quarantined on arrival in France?

Travel from outside Europe is still restricted to essential travel only until at least July 1st.

READ ALSO Will Americans be able to travel to France from July?

So now that restrictions are lifted, how can you actually get here?

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Channel Tunnel

The tunnel has been open throughout the lockdown, as it is a major carrier of freight traffic but it has also been running limited passenger services throughout.

The passenger services are now running hourly although the terminal buildings are still closed.

If you are travelling from France to the UK you will need to fill in a quarantine form before you travel.

Pre-booked journeys until September can be cancelled for free.

Eurostar

The Eurostar has also been running throughout the lockdown, but with very limited services - just train one a day for most of the lockdown.

Until July 8th, the Eurostar is only stopping at London, Paris and Brussels with no services to Ashford, Calais, Marne La Vallée (for Disneyland Paris), Lille or the Netherlands. For the remainder of the summer there will be no Eurostar services to Lyon, Avignon or Marseille, although French domestic services are running to those cities.

Masks are compulsory when on the train and in the station and are also compulsory in French, Belgian and UK stations and there is no onboard catering.

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Ferries

During the lockdown Brittany Ferries was running freight services only but has now announced that passenger services will restart from June 29th. This will be a gradual return to service with fewer sailings and restrictions on passenger numbers - find more information here.

P&O ferries are still running passengers services, currently around five sailings per day on UK-France routes.

Passengers are offering free alterations on their tickets, but not free cancellations.

DFDS is also running passenger services, although bars and restaurants onboard are closed. Face masks are compulsory on board.

Flights

BA and Air France/KLM are still running flights between UK to France, the majority of them to/from Paris. Ryanair and Easyjet have both announced that they intend to resume international services from July, having restarted mainly domestic routes in France and the UK. 

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Driving

With the borders open and an earlier requirement for quarantine in Spain now scrapped you can once again driver over the border from Spain, Andorra, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Luxembourg or Belgium.

Restrictions in France

Once you get to France you will find that most of the lockdown restrictions have been lifted, including the 100km travel rule.

However there are still some restrictions in place, in addition to the general health advice on social distancing and hand washing and masks are also compulsory in many places.

READ ALSO The 9 lockdown rules you still need to follow in France

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