Mrs Ray and I took the train the other day. All the way from Ashford to Marseille – direct. And it was absolute bliss.
I booked it on a whim, Eurostar having recently launched their new direct route from St Pancras to the Côte d’Azur, just to see whether we could fall in love with train travel again after years of overcrowding, delays and downright misery on the London to Brighton line (among others).
We joined our train at Ashford International at 07.55 and were in Marseille 5 hours and 51 minutes later. We travelled Standard Premier (£112 each, one way) and had two seats and a table all to ourselves. We took a picnic and a bottle of fine vino (a 2010 Meursault Les Vireuils, JY Devevey, since you ask) and had a hoot. Breakfast and lunch were served at our table – augmented by said picnic.
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