Eurostar passengers travelling from Amsterdam to London will need to arrange alternative travel arrangements for the next six months due to a significant refurbishment at Centraal station. The Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), has declared that the high-speed services between the two cities will be suspended from June until early 2025.
The renovations at Centraal station will result in a lack of space for passengers to undergo necessary security and border checks before boarding the trains. Hence, Eurostar trains will run empty on the Amsterdam-London route, and passengers will need to change trains in Brussels, Belgium to continue their journey to London.
During this six-month interruption, travellers will still be able to travel from London to Amsterdam via Eurostar, but the direct route from Amsterdam to London will be temporarily unavailable.
The planned refurbishment at Centraal station, which involves the installation of new passport and security facilities in the international terminal, has raised concerns. While it was initially anticipated that the works would take at least a year, the reduced six-month stoppage may come as a relief to some passengers.
The decision to suspend Eurostar services between Amsterdam and London has disappointed passengers and officials who had hoped to maintain continuous service. Despite efforts to find a solution, namely discussions between Eurostar, the Dutch government, NS, and infrastructure provider ProRail, it was ultimately determined that a direct train to London from Amsterdam would not be feasible during the renovation period.
Looking ahead to 2025, the upgraded service is expected to accommodate 400 passengers on each train, compared to the current capacity of 250, with an increase to 650 passengers later that year.
Eurostar’s chief executive, Gwendoline Cazenave, emphasised the company’s commitment to minimising the impact of the interruption on customers, the environment, and its business. She expressed gratitude for the discussions that led to shortening the service gap and reiterated efforts to mitigate inconvenience for passengers, local residents, and the economy of Amsterdam and surrounding areas.
The temporary suspension of Eurostar services between Amsterdam and London is the latest development in the rail industry following post-Brexit changes and evolving travel dynamics. Eurostar has faced challenges with passenger processing and has had to adjust its services, including the recent decision to halt direct routes from London to Disneyland Paris. Additionally, the emergence of competition, such as the announcement of a new Paris to London train service by a Spanish rail company, signals a shifting landscape for cross-border travel.
While the temporary interruption may cause inconvenience for passengers, Eurostar and relevant authorities are working towards sustainable solutions to ensure a seamless and enhanced travel experience between Amsterdam and London in the future.
