Eurostar may have to suspend its route between London and Amsterdam for nearly a year from summer 2024 due to planned engineering work in the Netherlands.
The international rail operator, which only started the route to the Dutch city in 2018, may have to suspend services from June 2024 until spring 2025 as work takes place on the international terminal at Amsterdam’s Centraal station.
A Eurostar spokesperson said: “We have received confirmation from the Dutch government that Eurostar will not be able to run the Amsterdam route from June 2024 until April 2025.”
Dutch transport minister Vivianne Heijnen held a briefing about the construction work on Friday (2 June), with local media reports suggesting that the “best case scenario” was for the project to be completed within seven months.
“The proposal to move the Dutch departure/arrivals lounge from Amsterdam to Rotterdam is not viable due to capacity and safety reasons,” added Eurostar. “Should this be the only option offered by the ministry, Eurostar Group will be left with no choice but to stop its Amsterdam direct routes.
“Eurostar is open to compromise and is working with stakeholders to find a solution.”
Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave met the Dutch infrastructure minister and rail operators ProRail and NS on Monday (5 June) to discuss the situation and potential solutions to allow trains to continue to operate to the Netherlands.
Following the meeting, Cazenave said: “We are pleased to continue discussions with our partners ProRail and NS in the Netherlands. We are convinced we will together find a suitable solution to allow a direct service between Amsterdam, Rotterdam and London.
“Eurostar is fully committed to playing a role in the Dutch sustainability policy by continuing to offer a green travel alternative to its Dutch customers.”