The long-awaited direct Eurostar service from Amsterdam to London will start April 30, eliminating the need to change trains at Brussels and cutting close to an hour off the schedule. The trip will now take just over four hours.
Direct service in the opposite direction was launched nearly two years but because the UK is not a Schengen member, and there were no customs and immigration clearance facilities in Amsterdam. The change will allow direct service from Rotterdam as well.
At about four hours, the time compares reasonably with the time required to fly between Amsterdam and London when airport waits and airport transfers are included. The route is Europe’s busiest airline route; Eurostar hopes to grab a significant share of the business, especially with ‘green’ pressure against flying and a desire to limit shorter flights at Amsterdam Schiphol to make room for more long-haul service. Eurostar already has plans to phase in more trains as the business builds.
