9 February 2018

Eurostar announces the launch of its new London-Amsterdam service on 4 April 2018

• Major commitment to the future of international high speed rail
• UK to The Netherlands by Eurostar in just three hours with journey time of 3hr41 (London-Amsterdam) and 3hr01 (London- Rotterdam)
• Tickets from £35 one-way on sale from 20 February when the inaugural journey will take place
• Record London to Brussels journey time of 1hr48 – a saving of 17 minutes

Eurostar, the cross channel high speed rail service linking the UK with mainland Europe, today announced that its new direct route from London to Amsterdam will launch on Wednesday 4^th April. Tickets will go on sale from 20 February when the inaugural service will take place.
 
The launch of the London to Amsterdam service marks a historic milestone in the expansion of international high speed rail travel, revolutionising the connection between these important destinations. For the first time, passengers will be able to travel from St Pancras in the heart of London direct to the Netherlands at a speed of 300 kph in just three hours.
 
Growth potential of the market
With over 4 million passengers travelling by air every year between London and Amsterdam, the market is the same size as the London to Paris market at the time of Eurostar’s launch of service in 1994. Over the last twenty-three years, the market for travel between London and Paris has more than doubled as customers increasingly choose high speed rail over plane. As the Netherlands grows in popularity as a key business and tourism hub, the potential for the new service and the overall market is significant. 
 
Nicolas Petrovic, Chief Executive, Eurostar, said:
“The launch of our service to the Netherlands represents an exciting advance in cross-Channel travel and heralds a new era in international high speed rail. With direct services from the UK to The Netherlands, France and Belgium, we are transforming the links between the UK and three of Europe’s top trading nations.
 
Our new route marks the culmination of the extensive investment in high speed rail on both sides of the Channel. With £1 billion investment in our new state-of the art trains and enhanced connectivity on the European network passengers can now enjoy fast, seamless rail connections between the UK and mainland Europe and a transformed travel experience.”
 
Service to launch on 4 April 2018
After extensive preparation, a comprehensive programme of testing on the Dutch high speed network and the building of Eurostar terminals in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Eurostar’s new route to the Netherlands will start on 4 April 2018 with one-way fares from £35. The new service will be launched with two trains a day departing at 08.31 and 17.31 respectively.
 
During the initial period, passengers will travel direct from London to Amsterdam and Rotterdam and on the return journey will connect through Brussels¹ where passport controls and security screening will be carried out. 
 
This connecting return journey will be a temporary measure whilst the governments in the UK and The Netherlands complete an agreement which will enable passport checks to be conducted on departure in The Netherlands as in other key Eurostar destinations².  The governments have committed to putting this agreement in place by the end of 2019 so that Eurostar travellers can then enjoy a direct service in both directions.
 
Record London to Brussels journey time of 1hr48
The launch of the new London-Amsterdam service not only creates a fast, point-to-point link with The Netherlands but also heralds a record new journey time for those passengers travelling on the London-Brussels section of the route. These customers will see their journey time cut by 17 minutes as the time onboard is reduced from 2hr05 to 1hr48.  
¹ Customers will travel on a Thalys service from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to Brussels, where passport and security checks will take place before boarding a Eurostar to London
² Juxtaposed controls are an arrangement between Belgium, France and the UK whereby immigration checks  take place before boarding the train rather than upon arrival at the final destination.
 
Notes to editors

1. From its early days of operation Eurostar has championed the environmental benefits of high speed rail and the switch to sustainable modes of transport for short haul travel. A Eurostar journey from London to Amsterdam emits 80% less carbon than the equivalent short haul flight making it a clear choice for the future of travel in Europe.
2. Customers travelling by Eurostar can enjoy a range of benefits including:
   • Seamless city centre to city centre travel, with stations located in the heart of our destinations
   • Comfort and space on board to work or unwind with wifi connectivity and onboard entertainment
   • Fast and convenient check-in - passengers are asked to arrive only 30 minutes before departure
   • Generous, free-of-charge baggage allowance with each passenger allowed 2 bags/suitcases and 1 piece of hand luggage
   • No queues or baggage reclaim upon arrival - simply take your bag with you on board
3. Eurostar’s Business Premier service offers the highest standards in short-haul business travel.  With flexible fares up to departure, Business Premier customers enjoy 10 minute express check-in, exclusive access to the business lounges as well as complimentary drinks and fine dining in the comfort of their seat.
4. In addition to the Eurostar services, there are up to 8 Thalys trains a day from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to Brussels, and the following provide the best connections to Eurostar services: