Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
I honestly haven’t noticed any TV screen on the new trains!
I think he means the ones in the middle of the ceiling on the 374s which spend about 90% of their time broadcasting adverts and similar for Eurostar?
I honestly haven’t noticed any TV screen on the new trains!
I think he means the ones in the middle of the ceiling on the 374s which spend about 90% of their time broadcasting adverts and similar for Eurostar?
It's totally ridiculous, why would we need to watch adverts for Eurostar when we're already on one? Marketing departments are the scourge of humanity
In all honestly I barely notice the screens.It's totally ridiculous, why would we need to watch adverts for Eurostar when we're already on one? Marketing departments are the scourge of humanity
Long ago, I came to the conclusion that many people here will never be happy with Eurostar, whatever they do.
Anyone who thinks marketing departments are the "scourge of humanity" doesn't follow the news.
Thanks for confirming the bar is open. At something like £7 for a pint of Leffe, you really should remember to buy your beer before, but sometimes you don’t.
I honestly haven’t noticed any TV screen on the new trains!
And back on topic, I am very interested in paying for an Amsterdam ticket for a cheaper price than a Brussels ticket. Realistically, if they don’t do exit checks at Brussels - and I’ve never ever seen this, what could they do? Even if they did, they could hardly physically force you back onto the train.
Not expected until mid 2020, at the earliest. Brexit could still throw a spanner in the works, too.Does anyone know when we might see direct trains Amsterdam-London?
Does anyone know when we might see direct trains Amsterdam-London?
Probably before a Eurostar is ever seen north of the M25. If you see the set up of KLM regional services, then the only people interested in such a service will be enthusiasts and passengers who are adverse to flying or can’t. Then there is the politics of Brexit.Does anyone know when we might see direct trains Amsterdam-London?
The service never calls at Antwerp does it? Strange choice given it's such a large city. I suppose because it has good connections from Brussels?
The city of Antwerp is campaigning for Eurostar to stop in their city as it would give a boost to tourism.
The biggest problem I think is in the working back to London.
A setdown only Antwerp stop may be commercially viable, but if you can't pick up those passengers again it's going to be difficult to sell.
Antwerp and Rotterdam are getting semi-dedicated Eurostar platforms and associated security check areas. I don't see how that could be fitted in Antwerp Central station.
Oh, whoopsAmsterdam & Rotterdam are getting semi-dedicated areas.
The city of Antwerp is campaigning for Eurostar to stop in their city as it would give a boost to tourism.
The biggest problem I think is in the working back to London.
A setdown only Antwerp stop may be commercially viable, but if you can't pick up those passengers again it's going to be difficult to sell.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam are getting semi-dedicated Eurostar platforms and associated security check areas. I don't see how that could be fitted in Antwerp Central station.
Does anyone know whether Eurostar passengers between Brussels and Amsterdam - or indeed Brussels and Rotterdam - with Carte Blanche or Business Premier can use any lounges at either end?
Yes - you can just flash the card to use the Thalys lounge at Brussels or what looks like a Regus operated lounge on platform 1 at Rotterdam.
Thanks, that's really helpful. Does anyone have any experience of trying to bring a guest with a ticket but without a card while using Carte Blanche in a lounge that isn't Eurostar? I imagine that might be a problem, even though Eurostar lounges let you bring a guest?
I checked the Dutch train logs (which only contains the part of the train in The Netherlands), but I can't find a broken down train just before Rotterdam. The only things I can find is that the Eurostar train you were actually in (9150) needed a reboot because the train lost the connection with the RBC, which took 20 minutes. The train status further shows that it was delayed before reaching The Netherlands, so my guess is that you were still in Belgium when it happened. Otherwise you wouldn't need to reverse to Antwerp at all: reversing just to Breda (which is, assuming you were still on the High Speed Line, about 10 minutes away) would have been a much better option.
It's hard to see why Antwerp should get a stop. It's not much of a commercial centre and it's easily reached by domestic train from Brussels.
Surely that cannot happen until through bookings Amsterdam to London are allowed.The Evening standard says Eurostar has ambitions for a 4th and 5th direct daily service.
It's the 2nd biggest city of Belgium, and it's home to a lot of companies. The city also has a port, which is the 2nd busiest in the whole of Europe (after Rotterdam). There is a lot of commercial activity going on in the port area as well.It's hard to see why Antwerp should get a stop. It's not much of a commercial centre and it's easily reached by domestic train from Brussels.