Amsterdam Eurostar

[2392]

Some of the key attractions are a long walk from Centraal Station. For example, the Rijksmuseum is more than 2 km away.

Again quite agree. But as there is quite an extensive tram/bus system around the City, with quite a number starting/terminating outside the front of Centraal Station. Getting further afield shouldn't be a problem, get, as I have a Tram/Bus pass they range from a day to up to 4-5 days and good value [they can/could be bought at the Tram/bus station]. The Tram/bus station has sandwich boards in both Dutch & English, so if you're to the Rijksmuseum it gives you the tram Number and which stand to go to, there are also announcements made in again both Dutch & English, so you shouldn't miss your stop.....

 

[Goldfish62]

Again quite agree. But as there is quite an extensive tram/bus system around the City, with quite a number starting/terminating outside the front of Centraal Station. Getting further afield shouldn't be a problem, get, as I have a Tram/Bus pass they range from a day to up to 4-5 days and good value [they can/could be bought at the Tram/bus station]. The Tram/bus station has sandwich boards in both Dutch & English, so if you're to the Rijksmuseum it gives you the tram Number and which stand to go to, there are also announcements made in again both Dutch & English, so you shouldn't miss your stop.....

Sorry, a bit OT I know, but when I went to Amsterdam by Eurostar / Thalys a few years there were no ticket facilities for city transport in Centraal Station and we had to join a long queue at the tourist information centre outside. Is this still the case?

 

[2392]

Sorry, a bit OT I know, but when I went to Amsterdam by Eurostar / Thalys a few years there were no ticket facilities for city transport in Centraal Station and we had to join a long queue at the tourist information centre outside. Is this still the case?

In short yes. The centre is outside in the Tram/bus station. To get round that, as my hotel was a few [5-10] minutes walk from Centraal. I went booked in dropped off my gear then went back to get the pass. Or on one occasion left it to the following day...... I suppose that's the peril of visiting a popular tourist destination. I know, "Ruddy Tourists! Come the Revolution.........!"

 

[island]

Sorry, a bit OT I know, but when I went to Amsterdam by Eurostar / Thalys a few years there were no ticket facilities for city transport in Centraal Station and we had to join a long queue at the tourist information centre outside. Is this still the case?

Just buy an OV-chipkaart (national transport smartcard) at the NS TVMs and use that.

 

[Goldfish62]

Just buy an OV-chipkaart (national transport smartcard) at the NS TVMs and use that.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Chester1]

I have heard on the grapevine that Border Force is recruiting more staff in Brussels as part of plan to open passport controls in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. I don't know whether thats to free up staff to move or if it will be Brussels based staff doing some shifts in Netherlands.

 

[ac-03]

Sorry, a bit OT I know, but when I went to Amsterdam by Eurostar / Thalys a few years there were no ticket facilities for city transport in Centraal Station and we had to join a long queue at the tourist information centre outside. Is this still the case?

If you go downstairs to the metro there’s machines that will sell you ticket for 24 hours on tram and metro. The anonymous OV cards cost 7.50 EUR and are valid for a minimum of 5 years. Useful if you regularly travel in the Netherlands by bus/tram/train.

 

[aelius]

Sorry, a bit OT I know, but when I went to Amsterdam by Eurostar / Thalys a few years there were no ticket facilities for city transport in Centraal Station and we had to join a long queue at the tourist information centre outside. Is this still the case?

There are three city transport ticket machines in Central station at the middle entrance but they are pretty erratic and especially choosy about acceptance of UK cards.

 

[bspahh]

https://twitter.com/EurostarJustinp/status/1176870778144534528 says:

Dutch media are reporting that the Secretary of State for Justice and Security in the Netherlands has said that the necessary agreements have been reached to allow direct Amsterdam-London services to begin in 2020...

and links to this article in Dutch
https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/253572/eurostar-volgend-jaar-direct-van-amsterdam-naar-londen

 

[LeeLivery]

Fantastic.

 

[kevin_roche]

Great, I'm planning already.

 

[BluePenguin]

This is wonderful news! Any update on when or if any of the trains will be stopping at Ashford Intl or Ebbsfleet Intl as a result of this?

 

[sprunt]

Is it reasonable to assume that direct services from Rotterdam will be on the same timetable?

 

[404250]

Expect so. Just checked and no 2020 direct trains back available to book yet through the app

 

[MisterT]

Is it reasonable to assume that direct services from Rotterdam will be on the same timetable?

Yes, all facilities at both Amsterdam and Rotterdam are ready to use (well, except the furniture inside the terminals, but that can be arranged at very short notice). All procedures etc are already in place and the basic checks are already carried out for each Eurostar, so basically everything is ready to go.

 

[S-Car-Go]

Nothing direct is bookable until all 4 countries have signed the treaty on the dotted line. It's all agreed, but now needs to be enshrined in law.
https://www.railwaygazette.com/high...-agreement-to-be-signed-shortly/54696.article
1. It's to confirm who's controlling passport checks into/out of the Schengen Zone. The French check entries in London. The French check exits in Lille, Belgians in Brussels, & Dutch officers do the exit check from Rotterdam & Amsterdam.
2. UK border force also need to position officers in all continental stations to check UK entry.
And that's with the present status quo before you factor in Brexit...

 

[JonasB]

According to The Independent, the direct trains will start in December: https://www.independent.co.uk/trave...rect-brexit-no-deal-netherlands-a9121816.html

 

[Wirewiper]

Nothing direct is bookable until all 4 countries have signed the treaty on the dotted line. It's all agreed, but now needs to be enshrined in law.
https://www.railwaygazette.com/high...-agreement-to-be-signed-shortly/54696.article
1. It's to confirm who's controlling passport checks into/out of the Schengen Zone. The French check entries in London. The French check exits in Lille, Belgians in Brussels, & Dutch officers do the exit check from Rotterdam & Amsterdam.
2. UK border force also need to position officers in all continental stations to check UK entry.
And that's with the present status quo before you factor in Brexit...

Brexit (if it happens) makes no difference. The UK has never been party to the Schengen Agreement so all passengers travelling between the UK and the Schengen Zone are required to undergo Border Control anyway.

 

[MisterT]

According to The Independent, the direct trains will start in December: https://www.independent.co.uk/trave...rect-brexit-no-deal-netherlands-a9121816.html

The earliest date possible is somewhere in January 2020, and that is only if Brexit doesn't have any impact on it. So it could be even later. The Independent has probably misunderstood the words of the Dutch Secretary of State.

 

[Gadget88]

Article today says it starts December 2019.

 

[MisterT]

And that article is wrong, like I said.

The Independent has probably misunderstood the words of the Dutch Secretary of State.

 

[sprunt]

Is there an expected effect of a no-deal Brexit on existing London to Brussels/Paris services? If not, why would Brexit affect the direct NL services? They're effectively identical in the sense of being between UK and Schengen aren't they?

 

[edwin_m]

Brexit could impose visas for UK citizens entering the EU or vice versa, and/or customs checks on their luggage. In the absence of a deal we just don't know.

 

[Gadget88]

I don’t think the return leg is the important issue the fact they want to move stations is more significant if you ask me.

 

[S-Car-Go]

The earliest date possible is somewhere in January 2020, and that is only if Brexit doesn't have any impact on it. So it could be even later. The Independent has probably misunderstood the words of the Dutch Secretary of State.

Methinks it'll be Dec 2020 before it happens!
Knowing how slowly these things move in the railways. The direct Amsterdam service & the e320 introduction were delayed a couple of years, and Waterloo International platforms took 10 years to repurpose.

 

[DavidGrain]

If the infrastructure is in place and the relevant treaty is ready for signature by the four governments then the only requirement if the staffing of the immigration posts and scheduling of the train staff and the rolling stock. I see no reason therefore why the service should not start early 2020.

Customs is not relevant to this because, if post-Brexit we require customs facilities, this will apply to the existing Eurostar services as well.

 

[edwin_m]

Customs is not relevant to this because, if post-Brexit we require customs facilities, this will apply to the existing Eurostar services as well.

But it does affect the costs of what is probably a fairly marginal operation. Yet another set of officials has to be in place for three departures per day, and more space will be needed for them to operate.

 

[DavidGrain]

But it does affect the costs of what is probably a fairly marginal operation. Yet another set of officials has to be in place for three departures per day, and more space will be needed for them to operate.

The requirement will be for customs at St Pancras so it will not be for three departures per day. I cannot see customs officers in place at all the continental departure points. The question will be is there space at St Pancras.

 

[edwin_m]

The requirement will be for customs at St Pancras so it will not be for three departures per day. I cannot see customs officers in place at all the continental departure points. The question will be is there space at St Pancras.

What about if the EU asks for customs on incoming passengers, and insists they are on their own territory? At least that wouldn't be shipping British officials overseas but it would still be a cost.

 

[DavidGrain]

What about if the EU asks for customs on incoming passengers, and insists they are on their own territory? At least that wouldn't be shipping British officials overseas but it would still be a cost.

That is a matter for the EU not the UK. They will need to have customs at the channel ports and the ports in Belgium, the Netherlands and further north where ferries from the UK arrive at continental ports in order to enforce import duties on goods made in the UK or made in other countries and imported into the EU via the UK. That is unless we get either an exit deal or a trade deal that will avoid this.