The Eurostar has long been the preferred method of travel for those in the United Kingdom who want to visit their neighboring countries across Europe. One of the most popular routes commuters would travel along is the high-speed railway from St Pancras in London to the Netherlands, which has been in operation since 2018.
Eurostar train pictured at a train station
One disadvantage of taking this route is the fact that commuters would be forced to sit through an hour-long security check on the return leg of the journey in Belgium. Now, it seems passengers will no longer have to deal with this inconvenience, as UK Border officials will be stationed in Amsterdam and Rotterdam to carry out security and passport checks there.
The route was initially scheduled to launch earlier this year, but had to be pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The route is now scheduled to open October 26, with one-way trip tickets going on sale for R880 [£40] as early as September 1, according to BBC News.
The new route means commuters will be able to travel from Amsterdam to London in just over four hours, while a journey from Rotterdam to London can be completed in only three and a half hours.
‘This important treaty shows that while we have left the European Union, our links with Europe are stronger than ever. It will enable vital security and immigration checks to be carried out in the Netherlands, protecting the UK’s border and providing faster and more efficient journeys for passengers,’ said Secretary of State for the Home Department, Priti Patel according to BBC News.
Great to see @Eurostar are launching £40 direct Amsterdam to London trains https://t.co/MNfhn5N8Ra
✈️🚄 How does a single journey from London to Amsterdam by plane compare to travelling by train in terms of carbon emissions, cost & time?
👇👇 pic.twitter.com/v9Mg99qBP0— Grantham Imperial (@Grantham_IC) August 25, 2020
Image credit: Pixabay.
