The final date for the direct Eurostar train from Amsterdam to London is set: 26 October. A switch in Brussels will then no longer be necessary, NS and Eurostar have announced. This will make the direct link between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom a reality with a few months’ delay.

The journey time from Amsterdam is from the end of October, 4 hours and 9 minutes and from Rotterdam is 3 hours and 29 minutes. There are two Eurostar trains daily from Monday to Friday, leaving Central from Amsterdam at 7: 47 and 16:47. Because passport control and security check are carried out in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, travellers can stay on the whole ride.

”The direct high-speed train takes you quickly and without hassle from the centre of Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the heart of London and is therefore a strong competitor for the plane, ” said Roger van Boxtel, president of NS. “It is great news that we can offer travellers between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom the choice for the sustainable train.”

Initially, the direct train between Amsterdam and London would have been running since the end of April. The corona crisis forced Eurostar to shut down the international connection. This also led to the test phase for the direct connection. Boxtel expects the number of international travellers to increase gradually in the coming period.

From 1 September it is possible to buy tickets for the Eurostar. Travellers can book up to six months for their journey. Until the end of 2020, due to the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus and the quarantine measures introduced by the UK, it is possible to book tickets up to 14 days before departure. A single trip is offered from 46 euros.