When it comes to continental cross-border train-travel, Eurostar is the only name that instantly springs to mind, right? For the past three decades, their smooth, speedy, and sustainable services have been whizzing Londoners through the Channel Tunnel – and they certainly don’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. In fact, it’s full steam ahead for the international icons, as they’ve just announced a shiny new route from St Pancras International that’ll be up and running by the end of the year.
The nifty new rail route in question will directly transport passengers from London to the beautiful Belgian city of Antwerp. Eurostar have confirmed that the new service will begin on December 14 – just in time for festive fun and frolics. From mid-December, Antwerpen-Centraal will be added as a stop on the line that currently runs from St Pancras International to Amsterdam Centraal. And there will be up to four services making the journey every day.
Getting from London to Antwerp currently takes around 3 hours 15 minutes and requires passengers to change from the Eurostar to an SNCB service at Brussels-Midi. Eurostar’s new direct route would take just 2 hours 45 minutes, removing 30 minutes and a rather inconvenient change-over from the journey.
There is one tiny little catch though, folks. The direct route will only be going one way. Eurostar currently has no plans to introduce a direct journey from Antwerp to London as there are no UK border and customs facilities at Antwerpen-Centraal. Passengers heading back to the Big Smoke will have to do so via Brussels.
Eurostar said: “Adding Antwerp as a direct stop on our London-Amsterdam services will make journeys to the city quicker and more convenient, providing customers with a more comfortable city centre to city centre travel experience.”
