The direct service from Amsterdam to London on Eurostar, the sophisticated high-speed train that connects the UK and north-west Europe, will be suspended for six months next year, the railway company has announced.
The closure, which begins in June, is the result of renovation work at Amsterdam Central Station, where Eurostar trains depart to London. Dutch Railways spokeswoman Carola Verderbos said the construction would make the terminal used by passengers to pass through security and immigration in Amsterdam inaccessible.
The terminal has a capacity of approximately 250 people. A larger terminal for Eurostar passengers, which will have nearly twice the capacity elsewhere at the station, is not expected to be completed until January 2025, Verderbos said.
“It’s unfortunate,” she said, adding that rail companies have been trying to encourage people to take trains instead of planes for short journeys. Flights from Amsterdam to London take less than an hour. The train journey from Amsterdam to London takes approximately four hours, with stops in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, Brussels, and Lille in France.
The closure of the Amsterdam-London route introduced in 2020 was initially expected to last a full year, according to previous announcements reported by Dutch news media. Service interruptions still occur, but their duration has been cut in half.
“Our focus remains on how we can provide the best experience and mobility connectivity for Eurostar customers during this time,” Eurostar Group CEO Gwendolyn Kaznabe said in a statement. “We will continue to operate direct services between Eurostars,” he added. London and Amsterdam are at least one way. ”
It will still be possible to travel by train from Amsterdam to the UK during the suspension, but passengers will need to change trains in Brussels.
All passport control for passengers traveling from London to Amsterdam takes place at St Pancras International Station in London.
Eurostar has struggled during the pandemic with almost zero passenger numbers. Britain’s exit from the European Union has added to the problem, with train companies forced to limit passenger numbers due to longer wait times at immigration.
The large number of tourists visiting Amsterdam from the UK and other countries is putting a strain on the city. According to him, in 2021 nearly 9 million tourists visited the city. City website. The number peaked in 2019, with around 22 million tourists visiting.