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Eurostar’s intercity route, Amsterdam-Rotterdam-London, which is experiencing rapid growth, will be temporarily closed for approximately six months, as announced by Dutch Railways (NS).
During the period of June 2024 to January 2025, Eurostar trains will operate without passengers on the route, but will pick up passengers bound for London upon arrival in Brussels.
Eurostar has announced that travelers will still have the option to journey from London to both cities in the Netherlands.
The renovation of Centraal station in Amsterdam is the cause of the closure. Due to the increased post-Brexit procedures, there will not be enough room at the station to accommodate passengers heading to London.
Negotiations have been ongoing for several months between NS, Eurostar, Dutch infrastructure provider ProRail, and the Dutch government.
The NS released a statement stating that there will be a temporary interruption in direct trains from Amsterdam to London despite all attempts to avoid it. This disruption is expected to last approximately six months, from June 2024 to January 2025.
“It is unfortunate that our efforts to make the Eurostar to London a desirable alternative to flying have not been successful. Finding a solution to this issue has been a challenging task. If there was an easy fix, it would have been implemented by all involved. However, after thorough investigations, it seems that a straightforward solution does not exist.”
“We have collectively decided to pause the direct Eurostar service to London for the latter half of 2024.”
The large and updated terminal will be completed by January 2025, allowing for an increased number of travelers to journey from Amsterdam to London without any stops. This will make Eurostar a more appealing option than flying for a larger group of travelers.
Passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will have to make a train transfer in Brussels until the change occurs.
Gwendoline Cazenave, chief executive of Eurostar Group, said: “Eurostar has always aimed to find a solution that would have the least possible impact on customers, the environment and its business. We acknowledge that a final decision has been made.
“We are happy to report that through our discussions, we have been able to decrease the service gap between Amsterdam and London from 12 months to 6 months. We are committed to further improving the situation for passengers, local residents, and the economy of Amsterdam and its surrounding areas.”
It is crucial that all parties involved work together in a responsible and supportive manner to ensure deadlines are met.
We need to shift our attention towards finding ways to provide the most enjoyable experience and seamless travel connections for Eurostar passengers during this time. As part of our efforts, we will continue to offer one-way trips between London and Amsterdam.
Source: independent.co.uk
