For those obsessed with the ease and eco-friendliness of cross-Channel travel, we have some bad news. After running for almost four years, Eurostar routes from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will be closed from June 2024.
Travellers can still get a direct train from London to Amsterdam, but on their way back will have to catch an intercity train to Brussels before changing to the Eurostar. Don’t worry, though – services are only being slashed temporarily. Here’s everything you need to know.
Why are Eurostar’s Amsterdam to London trains being suspended?
The move is down to a major new terminal being built at the Dutch capital’s Centraal station. The building work will mean that there won’t be enough space to process London-bound passengers, given the stricter border checks post-Brexit. Eurostar routes from Rotterdam to London are also being temporarily axed.
In a statement, Dutch Railways said that despite efforts to keep the route open a ‘simple solution appears not to exist’.
It added: ‘That is very disappointing because we have worked hard in recent years to make the Eurostar to London an attractive alternative to the plane. It is a particularly difficult puzzle to solve.’
Gwendoline Cazenace, chief exec of the Eurostar Group said: ‘Our focus must now turn to how we can offer the best experience and journey connections for Eurostar customers in this period. As part of this work, we will still run services directly between London and Amsterdam one way as a minimum.’
How long will it last?
As it stands, the routes will be shut for six months. Services are set to recommence once the new terminal is finished, which is expected to be in January 2025.
Negotiations between the Dutch government, Eurostar, Dutch Railways and ProRail (which provides the country’s rail infrastructure) have been going on since the summer to try and find a way to save the route. It was initially feared that the service would have to shut for at least a year, so there has been some compromise made.
The best alternatives for travelling from the UK to Amsterdam
Thankfully, the four-hour route from London St Pancras to Amsterdam will continue as normal. You can of course fly back to the UK, but eco-conscious passengers can still make the return journey by train. You’ll have to catch an intercity train to Brussels, where you can then board the Eurostar and travel back across the Channel.
This route is likely to take a bit longer, so if you want to get your hands on some cheap return tickets to Amsterdam while you still can, check out Eurostar’s Black Friday sale – ending today!
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