Improved high speed rail links across Europe have reduced the journey time from central London to the heart of Amsterdam to less than 5 hours. Fast trains, competitive fares and city centre stations have combined to help the railways challenge the airlines for passengers on this busy route.
The journey involves taking the Eurostar to Brussels and changing on to either a Thalys or Inter City service. For many passengers this is less inconvenient than travelling to and from out of town airports.
Take the Eurostar from London to Brussels
There are usually about 9 Eurostar trains a day between London St Pancras International, with some stopping to pick up at Ebbsfleet International or Ashford International. The journey time is under 2 hours and single fares, booked in advance, can be as low as £34.50.
From Brussels, Thalys trains reach Amsterdam in 1 hour 53 minutes, via a new improved high speed rail link, calling en route at Rotterdam and Schiphol Airport. There is also a slower Inter City service, every hour, which also calls at The Hague and takes 2 hours 48 minutes to Amsterdam. Passengers for The Hague often find it quicker to catch the Thalys to Rotterdam and change trains. Thalys, like Eurostar, offers cheap fares for advance bookings and a one way ticket from Brussels to Amsterdam can cost as little as €25. Reservations are required on Thalys trains, but Inter City trains do not need booking in advance.
Thalys tickets, bought online, are picked up at the International Travel Desk at Brussels station; this is in the concourse, below platform level, and 20 minutes should be allowed. Through tickets from London to Amsterdam can be purchased via the Eurostar website, but cheap advance fares are rarely available.
Eurostar has passport control and security checks at the departing station and passengers should allow an extra 30 minutes when catching a Eurostar train.
Amsterdam Centraal has Excellent Transport Links
Trains arrive at Amsterdam Centraal station which is in easy reach of all major hotels and attractions; including museums, canals and the famous red light district. Buses, trams and taxis are readily available to take visitors to all corners of the city.
Amsterdam is a major rail hub with connecting services to the rest of Holland, and beyond. There are regular connections to most Dutch cities, with typical frequencies being every 30 minutes. There are international services to major European cities. Daytime destinations Germany include Cologne, Frankfurt and Berlin; and overnight sleeper services serve Munich, Basle, Zurich, Prague and Copenhagen.
John Oyston - I am a freelance travel writer, accountant and further education teacher. I have spent a lifetime travelling across the UK, Western Europe ...
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