Eurostar confirms popular direct UK route will restart after huge train terminal revamp
EUROSTAR is relaunching its direct service from Amsterdam to London next year.
The high-speed operator temporarily halted direct services from the capital of The Netherlands to London St. Pancras International in June last year because of extensive renovations at Amsterdam Centraal Station.
Its terminal closed back in June, with passport checks not being able to take place at the Dutch Capital.
This meant services had to stop at Brussels, where Brits could clear immigration, adding extra time onto the journey.
During this time, passengers weren’t required to arrive at Amsterdam Centraal Station an hour before their departure time because passport checks were being held elsewhere.
However, officials have now announced that renovations to the terminal in the Dutch train station will be complete next year, with direct services returning on February 10, 2025.
Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar CEO, said: “Eurostar is fully committed to a bright future in the Netherlands and we thank our partners NS and Prorail for their work with us to ensure direct services to London could return and those to Paris and Brussels could continue.
“We look forward to the opening of the new Amsterdam terminal, which is going to offer more space and an exceptional experience for customers.”
The Minister for the Environment and Public Transport, Chris Jansen, added: “We are pleased to see the return of a direct train connection between Amsterdam and London.
“This has been a joint effort over the past years of all parties involved. This will help international travellers choose the train as a means of transportation between these two cities.”
For passengers heading the other direction, nothing will change, with staff in London still able to perform the necessary document checks.
There’s more good news for Eurostar passengers – with fares set to get cheaper next year.
Back in September, train regulator the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said fares should be cut by 7.7 per cent from April 2025.
The news comes after huge demand for Eurostar seats since Covid-19 restrictions lifted.
Brits can travel to Europe with Eurostar for as little as £39 each way.
This includes routes from London St Pancras to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Cheap £39 fares are in short supply and often not available at peak times or on weekends.
Campaigners have been calling for more Eurostar stops in the UK.
Services previously stopped at Ashford International, but this was paused during the pandemic and is yet to return.
Despite petitions and calls from local MPs for its return, experts have said it is unlikely to happen anytime soon.
A number of train operators have revealed plans to take on Eurostar with UK-Europe routes.
Virgin Trains could launch routes between the UK and Europe for the first time ever.
And start-up Evolyn has revealed plans to launch train services between London to Paris.
Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
“After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass.” – Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
“Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you’re whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too – as you’ll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way.” Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
“Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what’s so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won’t have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord.” – Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
“From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond.” – Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
“The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city’s high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I’ve witnessed anywhere.” – Ryan Gray
Northern Ireland will also benefit from a huge new transport hub when Belfast Grand Central eventually opens.
Meanwhile, Aldridge station in Walsall, West Midlands, is also set to reopen following a £30million revamp.