Dry Eurostar services during France 2016

[Michael Morris]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...rance-11278492

Football fans travelling to France for Euro 2016 next month will undoubtedly be keen to get the party started.

But those travelling by Eurostar have been warned that many of the trains heading there from London will be subject to a total alcohol ban.

Eurostar, which runs trains between London St Pancras and cities including Paris and Lille, says its plans are as a result of consultations with the authorities in both the UK and France.

Many fans are expected to travel by train to France for the tournament, which sees Wales playing England on Thursday, June 16, in Lens – which is just 25 miles from Lille.

An extra service for the game, which kicks off in Lens at 3pm French time, is running between London and Lille that day – leaving St Pancras shortly after 10.30am.

Read more: Our city will be safe for huge Euro 2016 tie between Wales and England, French mayor promises

But no alcohol will be served on any Eurostar train leaving London before 11am that morning.

The same prohibition will be in place for trains leaving the day before the Wales-England encounter.

And passengers for those services will also be prevented from taking alcohol through security.

A Eurostar spokesman revealed: “We work closely with our partners at the British Transport Police and French border authorities to agree when is relevant to apply alcohol restrictions.

“Throughout the tournament, there are two levels of alcohol restriction: zero alcohol, and limited alcohol.

“These are applied during specific days and time periods, and passengers on affected trains will be notified of the relevant details for their journey in pre-travel emails.”

Meanwhile, one of the cross-Channel ferry firms has said it will attempt to book Welsh and English fans on to separate services where possible.

Lens is also only an hour’s drive from the French ports of Boulogne, Calais and Dunkirk.

A spokesman for P&O Ferries, which runs a Dover-to-Calais service, explained: “We have a long-standing policy of trying to allocate supporters of different football teams to different sailings, where possible.

“It’s not separate sailings, or laying on sailings especially, it’s just a policy which has been in place for a long time.”

A spokesman for Brittany Ferries, which sails to northern France from Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth, said the company anticipated many Welsh fans travelling with them, particularly as Chris Coleman’s side will be based in the town of Dinard, Brittany, close to St Malo.

He added: “As a premium cruise-ferry service and supplier of sail-and-stay holidays we tend to carry more families. Those who wish to travel to the championships in groups are really looking at alternatives.

“As such, we don’t anticipate any issues, but will continue to work closely with police and relevant authorities to ensure all our passengers have a relaxing and enjoyable crossing.”

DFDS Seaways, which sails from Dover to Dunkirk and to Calais as well as from Newhaven in East Sussex to Dieppe, was also approached for comment.

[kingbillyboy]

no bad thing. you welsh boys don't half get mwi after a few drinks.