Eurostar, the major European rail operator, has connected cities across the continent for more than 20 years, linking capitals such as London, Paris, Brussels and Marseille. Its network is expanding: the next destination set to be added is Amsterdam, with direct high-speed services expected to begin at the end of 2017.
Once the new service starts, passengers will be able to travel between London and Amsterdam in under four hours. Eurostar is also planning a second Dutch connection, which would link London with Rotterdam.
In recent years the rise of low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, EasyJet and Norwegian has increased competition for cross-border travel in Europe. To remain attractive compared with budget flights, Eurostar has been developing faster, more direct services and improving the overall travel experience.
Eurostar previously served Amsterdam via a change at Brussels, a route that took around four and a half hours. The forthcoming direct high-speed connection will shorten that journey by roughly 30 minutes, making rail travel faster and more convenient for travelers between the two cities.