Eurostar (finally) gets go ahead for direct Amsterdam to London service
Direct high-speed train services from Amsterdam to London will be possible later this year, after new agreements were signed today.
For these services to operate, existing agreements between the UK, France and Belgium signed in 1993 have been modified to include the Netherlands.
Representatives from all four countries signed the treaties at a ceremony in Brussels.
UK Border Force officials will be stationed in Amsterdam and Rotterdam to carry out checks before boarding, as they already do in France and Belgium.
Direct services between the Netherlands and the UK are expected to start operating later this year, without the need to change trains at Brussels for immigration and security checks.
Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: "As we begin to emerge from one of the greatest international challenges of our time, we’re working hard to support the recovery of international transport and tourism sectors.
"Investment in modern, convenient and more environmentally-friendly high-speed rail links between major European cities will help drive this recovery so these sectors can flourish once again."
Eurostar has not given a date for the launch of direct trains. A direct service from London to Amsterdam and Rotterdam launched in 2018.
A direct service in the return direction was due to launch this spring.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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