Latest Rail News

20.02.18

First direct London-Amsterdam service marks ‘exciting new chapter’ for Eurostar

The first ever direct Eurostar service from London to Amsterdam left London St Pancras International today, marking a landmark moment for rail travel between the UK and mainland Europe.

A service left at 08.31 this morning, and will take just over three hours to get to Rotterdam, and three hours 40 minutes to get to Amsterdam.

Eurostar has said it hopes the start of commercial services on 4 April will provide a viable alternatives to air travel, with one-way tickets starting at £35.

Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar, stated: “Today’s inaugural service heralds an exciting new chapter in the expansion of high speed rail, strengthening the trading and tourism links between the UK and mainland Europe.

“With just six weeks to go until the start of service we are looking forward to providing customers with a fast, comfortable connection from London to Amsterdam and transforming travel between these important capital cities.”

When commercial services get going, two trains a day will leave from St Pancras, at 08.31 in the morning and then at 17.31.

The new service will also cut down on times to Belgium by about 17 minutes, down to a journey time of one hour 48.

Comments

Andrew Gwilt   20/02/2018 at 12:18

Brilliant news. London to Amsterdam that would take about 3 hours. From London airports such as Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Southend and Luton to Amsterdam would roughly take less than hour one way.

Huguenot   20/02/2018 at 12:38

Ah, but the press release didn't mention the extra hour for the return journey because the border controls haven't got their act together.

Lutz   20/02/2018 at 13:52

@Huguenot Correct: These are also only the launch timings; they will change again at a later date once the full border check services are in place.

Scotchexpress   20/02/2018 at 15:55

Pity the Union Flag is upside down.

Ian Watkins   20/02/2018 at 16:48

Interesting write up here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/Eurostar-launches-new-route-from-London-to-Amsterdam/

Phil B   20/02/2018 at 20:38

I still prefer the ferry from Harwich to the Hook

James Palma   21/02/2018 at 08:13

While this is really great for rail travel it's still cheaper and more efficient to fly.

Noam Bleicher   21/02/2018 at 10:05

It depends what you mean by efficient James. If you want three uninterrupted hours to get some work or reading done the train is the way to go.

Mark Hare   21/02/2018 at 12:05

Clearly the journey time by air is much quicker but once you factor in check-in and security, travel to the airport and rail travel into central Amsterdam at the other end, travelling time by Eurostar will be comparable and I expect many people will prefer to take the train.

DLR   23/02/2018 at 14:20

£35 to get to Amsterdam £144 to get from Stoke on Trent to St Pancras. Something doesn't add up somewhere??

Andrew JG   25/02/2018 at 21:19

Its best to fly from London Southend Airport to Amsterdam for just £35 One Way. Way more cheaper and quicker than using Eurostar from London St. Pancras Intl to Amsterdam. Just saying.

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