From June 2024, the beloved Eurostar train line won’t run from the Netherlands to London for six months.
However, it will remain possible to take the train from London to the Netherlands.
Why? Well, a tricky thing called “passport control”.
The building that contains passport control at Amsterdam Central Station needs to be relocated during renovations — and can only be reopened in a new location in December 2024, reports the NOS.
When travelling from London to the Netherlands, the passport checks are completed in the UK — so that trip is safe (for now).
Logistical hiccups
That explains why it can’t leave from Amsterdam — but why can’t it continue running between Rotterdam and London?
Well, Rotterdam only has space for 150 passengers at passport control, which would leave up to 750 empty seats until the train reaches Brussels.
According to the company, that’s just not profitable.
Instead, travellers in the Netherlands who want to take the train to London will have to travel to Brussels first.
Research and criticisms
It was already announced that the Eurostar train line between London and the Netherlands could come to a halt for up to a year.
The NS, ProRail, and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management conducted extra research to try and solve the problem.
Helaas, no solution was found to keep trains running while Amsterdam’s station is under construction.
On the bright side, they managed to shorten the time without trains from 11 months down to six months.
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