Heading abroad on holiday can be great fun, but getting to and from destinations overseas is not always straightforward. For example, plane journeys can be a hassle. Holidaymakers have to arrive at airports well in advance of their departure times, and these travel hubs are not always conveniently located. Also, some people simply do not like the idea of travelling by plane.
For anxious flyers, and those who wish to avoid the practical difficulties associated with plane trips, there is an alternative. From the UK mainland it is possible to get trains to the continent, and this can be the perfect way to start and end relaxing vacations.
In news that may be welcomed by many consumers, a new route is set to open from London. As well as Paris and Brussels, people will be able to get from the English capital to Amsterdam. Eurostar has announced that it has signed an agreement with Dutch railways. Under the terms of the deal, direct services will run between the two cities from December 2016.
The development will form part of a package of measures to enhance services on the Dutch high speed line and it will be ratified by the Dutch Parliament over coming months.
It seems likely that the route will prove a hit among consumers. According to figures cited by Eurostar, the London Amsterdam route is the largest international airline market in Europe and it attracts more than three million business and leisure passengers.
Getting between the two cities will take around four hours, and once people arrive at their final stations, they will find themselves in the heart of the metropolises, rather than miles outside at airports. This could reduce journey times for many passengers. Eurostar plans to run two services per day between London and Amsterdam and they will travel via Brussels, stopping at Antwerp, Rotterdam, Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Centraal. The firm pointed out that as well as offering a high-speed link between Britain and the Netherlands, this service will also “enhance the scope” for customers to connect to other destinations across mainland Europe.
Commenting on the deal, chief executive of Eurostar Nicolas Petrovic said: “We have long been ambitious for expansion to new destinations so today’s announcement marks a major advance in our growth plans. With over three million passengers travelling by air between London and Amsterdam, this is one of Europe’s most popular routes.”
He went on to state: “Our fast, comfortable, point-to-point service will greatly enhance the links between the UK and the near continent, revolutionising travel between these important financial and tourist hubs.”
Of course, it is not only holidaymakers from London and the surrounding area that will be able to use this service. By checking the relevant rail times and booking train tickets UK, people can travel from all around Britain to the capital before getting Eurostar connections.
To help ensure their journeys are as inexpensive as possible, it is a good idea for consumers to book their tickets sooner rather than later.
