... and now you can get there by Eurostar

TICKETS for Eurostar’s longawaited new direct service from London to Amsterdam went on sale on Thursday.

Even though the operation will begin on a modest scale – and there are complications on the return leg – this is major news. Eurostar may become the preferred means of transport between the British and Dutch capitals, just as it has on the London to Paris and Brussels routes, where 80 per cent opt for trains instead of flying.

When does the service start?

Wednesday, April 4. How long will it take? Three hours 41 minutes, which is at least an hour quicker than the current fastest option, involving Eurostar to Brussels, then a high-speed Thalys train to Amsterdam.

How does the journey time compare with flying?

London to Amsterdam flights are scheduled to take just over an hour. However, factor in getting to the airport, check-in time requirements, passing through security and getting from Schiphol airport to the city centre and you’re looking at at least four hours – or more if you have checked in a bag. With Eurostar, you need to check in at least 30 minutes before departure, or ten minutes in business class. The journey, which will be on Eurostar’s latest e320 trains, is likely to be more relaxing than flying, with more comfortable seats and no restrictions on luggage. In Amsterdam, you arrive at Centraal Station, within walking distance of many hotels.

How frequent will the services be?

Initially twice a day on weekdays, departing St Pancras at 8.31am and 5.31pm, and once a day at weekends – the morning service on Saturdays and the evening one on Sundays. But services will become more frequent.

What are the complications on the return leg?

The UK and Dutch governments haven’t sorted arrangements for checking passports before boarding Eurostars in Amsterdam (and Rotterdam). Until they do – and they have promised to do so by the end of 2019 – you can’t travel direct with Eurostar back to London. Instead, you’re advised to take a Thalys from Amsterdam to Brussels, then change to a Eurostar for the Brussels-London leg. However, connections are good – the total journey time is four hours 40 minutes.

How much will tickets cost?

From £35 one-way (outbound) or £78 return. With so few trains to start, I suspect seats will fill up very fast, so book well ahead to secure the cheapest fares.

EasyJet, which has 21 flights a day from London to Amsterdam, has fares from £30 one-way, without a checked-in bag.