Title: Eurostar Considers Suspending Dutch Services Due to High-Speed Line Issues and Amsterdam CS Renovations
Eurostar, the high-speed rail service linking the UK with continental Europe, is considering suspending its Dutch services in 2025 due to increasing reliability problems, capacity restrictions, and frustrating delays for passengers, according to CEO Gwendoline Cazenave. Cazenave cited speed limits on the high-speed line and uncertainties around the renovations of Amsterdam Central Station as the main reasons for the potential suspension.
ProRail, the Dutch rail infrastructure manager, has imposed speed limits on several parts of the high-speed line due to concerns about the infrastructure, leading to frequent delays and longer journey times. Additionally, the renovations at Amsterdam Central Station have forced Eurostar to temporarily close the Amsterdam-London route, with passengers having to change trains in Brussels.
Cazenave expressed concern about the lack of guarantees and binding agreements on the readiness of essential parts of the necessary infrastructure for restarting the connection. Eurostar was informed that renovation work would limit the availability of platforms from the spring of 2025, giving Eurostar access to platforms that are half as long as needed. There is no clear indication of how long these capacity restrictions will remain in place.
The accumulation of restrictions is pushing Eurostar off the map in the Netherlands, Cazenave said. Without clarity on the Dutch rail network and guaranteed access to the necessary infrastructure, Eurostar is forced to suspend services from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London and Paris in 2025.
Eurostar considers the Netherlands to be the country with the greatest growth potential in its network. Cazenave stated that this outcome is not the result of a decision by Eurostar but rather the result of a lack of interest and care for international travelers.
I trust that all parties involved want to prevent the Netherlands from disappearing from the European railway map in this way, Cazenave said. It is not Eurostar that is leaving the Netherlands, but Eurostar that is being forced to leave the Netherlands.
The decision to suspend Dutch services would be a significant blow to Eurostar’s network expansion plans and would negatively impact international travelers seeking a convenient and efficient rail connection between the UK and the Netherlands.
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