Eurostar resumes direct train from Amsterdam to London – but there’s a catch

[ad_1]

After eight long months, Eurostar has announced one of its much-loved routes has returned just in time for summer.

The train operator had been forced to halt direct travel between London and Amsterdam while a new terminal was being built at Amsterdam Centraal station, but now trains are back on the tracks — at least for the next seven weeks anyway.

While the upgrade was taking place, passengers had to change at Brussels and pass through border security. It was a bit of a mission, to say the least, and increased travel time.

Now, the middle country has been cut out, making the trip ‘seamless’ for customers. But with good news comes bad, and unfortunately, the direct service will only run for a limited time before being briefly suspended again from March 29, when stop-offs in Brussels will resume.

Try not to panic too much though, as this time it’s only for a couple of weeks; by April 22, the direct service will be up and running once more, meaning all of your summer plans can go ahead without a hitch.

So, if you’re looking to travel directly to Amsterdam, now’s the time, with three daily return services between the two major cities on weekdays and Sundays, alongside two return services on Saturdays.

According to the transport provider, there are also plans for this to increase to five return services daily by 2026.

Plus, since the Amsterdam terminal can accommodate more passengers and longer trains, there are more seats on each service — 400 to be exact, or a 10% increase compared to June 2024.

By September, that capacity is expected to rise to 650 seats per service.

In a statement, Eurostar International CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said: ‘We are delighted that direct Eurostar services between Amsterdam and London are back. This is more than just a train journey – it is a seamless connection between two vibrant capitals, offering our customers an efficient, comfortable, and sustainable way to travel.

‘Eurostar is proud to unveil this state-of-the-art terminal, reinforcing our commitment to providing a seamless, sustainable travel experience.’

Seema Malhotra, Minister for Migration and Citizenship also weighed in, saying: ‘I am pleased to see the reinstatement of the direct Eurostar connection to London from the Netherlands.

‘Our hard-working UK Border Force officers based in Netherlands will ensure that our border security remains robust.’

It follows news that as of February 13, Eurostar announced a major change: ending the use of contactless pre-depature gates at at London St Pancras.

The contactless SmartCheck gates were introduced as a way to speed up the boarding process, eliminating the need for manual passport checks.

While the SmartCheck lane will still be available, it will be switched to a lane that can only be used by priority passengers, such as those signed up to Eurostar Premier or Étoile Club Eurostar members.

And it could led to more queues for standard passengers, once the ‘seamless’ technology is axed.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

[ad_2]

Source link