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Eurostar resumes direct Amsterdam-London services after eight-month pause

Services between the cities began again on Monday - with more trains and capacity for passengers thanks to a new, larger terminal.

Monday 10 February 2025 14:57, UK

EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY MAY 6 File photo dated 21/01/21 of a Eurostar e320 high-speed train heading towards France through Ashford in Kent. An international rail travel expert has called for Eurostar to face direct competition, as the Channel Tunnel turns 30 years old on Monday. Mark Smith, founder of international train travel website Seat61.com, said having a second company operating passenger train services to the continent could lead to lower fares and new destinations.Issue date: Monday Ma
Image: A Eurostar service heading towards France through Ashford in Kent. File pic: PA
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Eurostar has resumed direct services from Amsterdam to London after an eight-month hold-up while a new terminal was built in the Netherlands capital.

Services from Amsterdam's Centraal station to London St Pancras began again on Monday, after being paused for construction work in June.

Since then, passengers travelling from the Dutch capital to London were forced to take a train to Brussels where they would pass through border checks before changing on to a Eurostar service.

St Pancras station in central London, where Eurostar passengers faced continued disruption on Saturday after arson attacks on the French rail network ahead of the start of the Olympic Games. The rail operator, which runs international services from London St Pancras, said one in four of its trains would not run over the weekend. Picture date: Saturday July 27, 2024.
Image: St Pancras station in central London, where the UK's Eurostar terminal is located. File pic: PA

The new Amsterdam station means more space for UK-bound passengers, enabling Eurostar to reintroduce direct departures and increase services.

It is now running three daily return trips between the cities on weekdays and Sundays and two on Saturdays - each taking three hours and 52 minutes - with plans to grow it to five by 2026.

Each train can carry up to 400 passengers, compared to a previous maximum of 360 and this will reach 650 by September.

Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar chief executive, said the firm was "delighted" that direct services had resumed, calling such trips "more than just a train journey - it is a seamless connection between two vibrant capitals, offering our customers an efficient, comfortable, and sustainable way to travel.

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"Eurostar is proud to unveil this state-of-the-art terminal, reinforcing our commitment to providing a seamless, sustainable travel experience.

People walking in front at Central Station downtown Amsterdam 14 August, 2013. (Paulo Amorim / VWPics via AP Images)
Image: Centraal Station, Amsterdam. File pic: AP

"We know we will welcome more passengers on board as we continue to grow our services and set the standards for connectivity across Europe.

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"The tripling of capacity on the Netherlands-UK route is step one in a broader strategy to increase Eurostar's network for customers all across Europe."

Migration minister Seema Malhotra said she was pleased to see direct services back on track and pledged that the UK Border Force officers based in Netherlands "will ensure that our border security remains robust."

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