The Ticket Collector

Help Eurostar prepare for the big day, and get free travel.

Help us prepare for the big day and get free travel on Eurostar

On 14th November 2007, Eurostar will begin running train services to and from Paris and Brussels on the new high speed line from St Pancras International. The last services in and out of London Waterloo International will be on 13th November. On 19th November we will open our brand new station in North Kent, Ebbsfleet International.

To ensure that services from the our magnificent new stations run as smoothly as possible we are planning a period of intensive testing and to help create a realistic environment we would like as many people as possible to act as travellers in the various test scenarios.

If you interested in participating as a passenger in one of these test days and to be one of the first to see the new stations you just need to register your details and we’ll let you know where and when to come along.

You will be acting as a typical traveller – picking up tickets, going through check-in, security and passport control, boarding and departure and finally arrival – up to 3 times in one day.

Testing will take place on the following dates:

Tuesday 30th October,
Wednesday 31st October,
Thursday 1st November,
Wednesday 7th November and
Thursday 8th November.

You will only need to be available for one of these days. You will need to arrive at St Pancras some time between 08:30 and 11:30 and will be required for somewhere between 5 and 6 hours.

Although trains will not be going through Eurotunnel (they will either turn round outside St Pancras International or go to and return from Ebbsfleet International), all participants will need a passport/national ID card (valid for international travel).

Refreshments will be provided during the day, including lunch, and travel expenses will be reimbursed up to a limit of £25.

As well as the chance to take part in this unique phase of testing, participants will also get a voucher to be redeemed for a free standard class return ticket to Paris, Lille or Brussels on HS1 (terms and conditions will apply).

For the link to register etc, check out this link:

http://www.eurostar.com/UK/uk/leisure/travel_information/testing.jsp

FCC - National Customer Service Week

Its National Customer Service week and First Capital Connect are supporting it by dragging out the managers from behind their desks and ’supporting frontline staff’ by placing them on FCC stations all this week.

National Customer Service Week is taking place from 1 to 7 October. First Capital Connect is taking part through a series of special events, including Meet the Manager sessions on our trains. At larger stations customers will be able to see managers and Directors working alongside frontline staff. All managers will be easily identified by distinctive brightly coloured vests.

Come and talk to us and tell us what you think. Enter a competition to win 6 pairs of First Capital Connect tickets, just by telling us the one thing we should do to improve customer service.

We are listening….so come and talk to us.

Its one week only and until the next major disruption or the customer service week next year you will more then likley not see them again.

The Managers, from various parts of the company, will be out and about on stations. Take this chance to speak to them, and discuss anything you want. Prehaps the new Capacity Study will be what you want to chat about or the lack of seats on trains, or even what new trains we will be getting to improve Capacity.

They will be visible in pink vests with “CUSTOMER SERVICE” on the back.