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29 October 2018 08:51
The Eurostar route between London and Amsterdam opened in April 2018
Eurostar is set to increase its services between London and Amsterdam to cope with growing demand.
From June next year, an extra daily train will operate on the route between London St Pancras and Amsterdam Central, via Brussels and Rotterdam.
More than 130,000 passengers have used the route since it was launched in April 2018, with two daily trains currently operating on weekdays and just one on Saturdays and Sundays.
Security checks
While passengers are currently able to travel direct from London to Amsterdam, journeys in the opposite direction involve a change of trains in Brussels for passport checks and security screening.
Eurostar has described this as a "temporary measure" while the UK and Dutch governments complete an agreement to allow border screening on departure in Amsterdam, as happens in Paris and Brussels.
This is expected to be in place by the end of next year.
The cross-Channel rail operator said it will add a fourth daily service once the agreement is reached, with ambitions for a fifth.
Train journeys from London to Rotterdam take three hours and one minute, with Amsterdam reached in three hours and 41 minutes.
Trips in the opposite direction take almost an hour longer due to the change of trains in Brussels.
Choosing trains over planes
Dutch transport secretary Stientje van Veldhoven told Rotterdam-based newspaper Algemeen Dagblad: "I want to get as many passengers as possible to choose the train over the plane for short distances within Europe.
"I want to do everything I can to make Eurostar's plan possible."
Eurostar says its city centre to city centre service is attracting passengers who prefer high-speed rail over flying. Airlines offer London to Amsterdam flights which last as little as one hour.
If you're heading off on the train for a city break somewhere in Europe, make sure you have the right travel insurance for you and check out our dedicated city break travel insurance.
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