![]() Keith FenderĮurostar has also previously said it believes its services will be impacted by the European Union’s plan to introduce a new electronic and biometric immigration system, similar to the ESTA Visa waiver offered to some visitors to the U.S. Eurostar Siemens Velaro e320 train 374032 at London St Pancras International on Nov. Eurostar had already stopped running overnight winter-weekend trains from London to the French Alps aimed at winter sports vacationers, although it has run a chartered service on behalf of a travel company this year. The operator received no government support during the COVID-19 pandemic, instead mortgaging its train fleet and taking out large extra bank loans. Eurostar blamed the move, which was announced last summer, on the need to rebuild its finances. ![]() Disney service haltedĮurostar’s daily direct service from London to Disneyland Paris ended June 7. A Eurostar suspension will be a significant setback for progress of the high speed service, as well as for European efforts to encourage travel by rail instead of air for environmental reasons. Eurostar currently carries about 2,000 passengers daily each way between Amsterdam and London, while some airlines have reduced service on the route. This had clearly been the case, as service frequencies had increased to four trains each way daily, with plans for a fifth pair announced before the service suspension was disclosed. London-Amsterdam was one of Europe’s busiest short-haul aviation routes before the Eurostar service began, and the high speed train operator made it clear when launching the service that it expected most of its passengers to switch from flying. Other Dutch passenger train operators using Amsterdam Centraal station have also objected to the impact of the planned renovations, but do not face a total suspension of operations, as no other operator needs permanent check in and security/immigration facilities. While it currently appears unlikely, it remains possible a solution allowing continued Eurostar service will be found. Dutch national rail passenger organization Rover has described the situation as “incredible.” The organization, along with the City of Amsterdam, has called on ProRail and the Dutch government to make sure the Eurostar service can continue to operate, according to local media. ![]() Other international services, such as those operated to Germany from Amsterdam, do not have such controls as the journey is entirely within the European Union’s Schengen free-travel area.Įurostar has lobbied Dutch ministers and ProRail to avoid the suspension, but apparently without success. Immigration screens passengers at Vancouver, British Columbia, before boarding Amtrak Cascade trains. Keith FenderĮurostar services are subject to airport-style security screening of passengers and also have immigration controls conducted before departure, similar to the way U.S. ![]() Security screening required Inside the Eurostar Departure lounge in Amsterdam on Feb. Even longer term, Prorail plans to build a dedicated Eurostar terminal alongside the existing Amsterdam Zuid (South) station, but this will not be ready until 2036. The Eurostar terminal at Amsterdam Centraal station, where security and immigration controls are undertaken, was built on the edge of the station in advance of the through services to London beginning in 2018, although ProRail plans to build new, expanded facilities. The planned suspension will run from June 2024 until because Eurostar has no alternative terminal it can use in Amsterdam, through trains on the Amsterdam-Brussels-London route will be limited to the Brussels-London portion. The Amsterdam service will not be able to operate as that city’s main station is undergoing major renovation work and the Eurostar check-in and security/immigration area will not be available. Separately, Eurostar has also dropped its service between London and Disneyland Paris. Keith FenderĪMSTERDAM - Despite objections from international high speed rail operator Eurostar and passenger groups, the Dutch government has agreed to a plan by state-owned infrastructure operator ProRail to suspend all Eurostar services in the Netherlands for up to a year beginning next summer. At right, under the white tarp, is the then-new departure lounge building which will be shut down for station renovation work. The Inaugural Eurostar at Amsterdam Centraal on Feb.
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