IFRAME: https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-N9RMBBF Subscribe now Login * Subscribe Now * Login * Please wait.... * * News + UK + World + US + UK Politics + Brexit + Tech + Science + Education + Environment + Health + Business + InFact * Politics + Brexit + Conservatives + Labour + Lib Dems + SNP + Green Party + DUP + Boris Johnson + Jeremy Corbyn + US Politics * Voices + Editorials + Shappi Khorsandi + Mary Dejevsky + Robert Fisk + Mark Steel + Janet Street-Porter + Chuka Umunna + John Rentoul + Jenny Éclair + Matthew Norman + Sean O'Grady + Tom Peck * Sport + Football + Rugby union + Cricket + F1 + Boxing + Tennis + Cycling + Golf + Miguel Delaney + Podcast + US sports * Culture + Film + Music + TV & radio + Books + Art + Photography + Theatre & dance + Streaming Hub + Geoffrey Macnab + Clarisse Loughrey + Ed Cumming + Crosswords & puzzles * Video * Indy/Life + Travel + Women + Fashion & beauty + Food & drink + Dating & relationships + Health & fitness + Tech + Money + Design & home + Motoring * IndyBest + Christmas + Home & garden + Kids + Books + Travel & outdoors + Fashion & beauty + Food & drink + Tech + Sports & fitness * Long Reads * indy100 * Vouchers + TUI + Groupon + Argos + Hyperoptic + Just Eat + Currys + Nike + Travelodge + National Trust + boohoo * Premium + Chris Blackhurst + Hamish McRae + Janet Street-Porter + Mary Dejevsky + Matthew Norman + Jenny Éclair * 20 Pledges * Please wait.... * + UK Edition + US Edition Subscribe Now Subscribe Now * News + UK + World + US + Politics + Brexit + Tech + Science + Education + Environment + Health + Business + InFact + Long reads * Politics + Brexit + Conservatives + Labour + Lib Dems + SNP + Green Party + DUP + Boris Johnson + Jeremy Corbyn + US Politics * Voices + Editorials + Shappi Khorsandi + Mary Dejevsky + Robert Fisk + Mark Steel + Janet Street-Porter + Chuka Ummuna + John Rentoul + Jenny Éclair + Matthew Norman + Sean O'Grady + Tom Peck * Sport + Football + Rugby union + Cricket + F1 + Boxing + Tennis + Cycling + Golf + Miguel Delaney + Podcast + US sports * Culture + Film + Music + TV & radio + Books + Art + Photography + Theatre & dance + Streaming Hub + Geoffrey Macnab + Clarisse Loughrey + Ed Cumming + Crosswords & puzzles * Indy/life + Travel + Fashion & beauty + Food & drink + Health & fitness + Dating & Relationships + Tech o iPhone o Tech news o Tech culture o Gaming o Cryptocurrency + Motoring + Women * Video * IndyBest + Christmas + Sports & Fitness + Home & Garden + Kids + Books + Fashion & Beauty + Food & Drink + Travel & Outdoors + Tech * Money + Mortgages + Loans + Savings + Pensions + Money transfers + Health insurance + Money Deals * indy100 * Voucher Codes + TUI + Groupon + Argos + Hyperoptic + Just Eat + Currys + Nike + Travelodge + National Trust + boohoo * Premium + Subscription offers + Independent Premium app + Daily Edition app + Chris Blackhurst + Hamish McRae + Janet Street-Porter + Mary Dejevsky + Matthew Norman + Jenny Éclair * 20 Pledges * UK Edition + UK Edition + US Edition Please wait.... Log in using your social network account OR Log in directly with The Independent {{message}} ____________________ Please enter an email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address ____________________ Please enter a valid password [ ] Keep me logged in (BUTTON) Submit Forgotten your password? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to Independent Premium. View offers Hi {{fullName}} * My Independent Premium * Account details * Help centre * Logout (BUTTON) Close Eurostar's first London to Amsterdam train service sparks competition with airlines Eurostar is hoping to attract business and leisure travellers from airline * Simon Calder Travel Correspondent * @SimonCalder * Wednesday 4 April 2018 11:08 {{^moreThanTen}} * {{total}} comments {{/moreThanTen}} * At 8.31am, the first commercial Eurostar train from London to Amsterdam departed from St Pancras station. Passengers on the maiden journey had paid as little as £35 one way for the 3 hour, 41 minute journey via Brussels and Rotterdam, though late bookers had only the option of Business Premier at £260. Unlike airline passengers, travellers on Eurostar face no onerous baggage restrictions; they can take two suitcases and a third smaller piece of luggage without additional charge. The security screening process is relatively gentle, with no ban on liquids above 100ml. Download the new Indpendent Premium app Sharing the full story, not just the headlines (BUTTON) Download now Watch more * What it's like to travel on the first direct London-Amsterdam train On board, passengers can access reasonable mobile-phone coverage, even in the Channel Tunnel, and better-than-average travelling wifi. Eurostar believes these advantages will win market share from the airlines. Mike Cooper, the train operator’s new chief executive, called it “a historic milestone for Eurostar and the growth of international high speed rail". “With the Netherlands becoming increasingly popular as a business and tourism destination, the potential for our new route is significant and we look forward to offering our customers a fast, seamless connection between these key European cities,” he said. But initially the train has significant disadvantages relative to air. Between 6am and the train's departure at 8.31am, 13 flights had left for Amsterdam from six London airports. Eurostar has just 12 departures a week: 8.31am and 5.31pm on weekdays, but morning only on Saturdays and evening only on Sundays. Arrival at Amsterdam Central is at 1.12pm and 10.12pm respectively, not ideal business timings. More seriously, until 2019, no trains will carry passengers all the way back from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to London. The UK and the Netherlands have yet signed a deal on “juxtaposed border controls”, allowing British officials to check passports of passengers at Amsterdam and the intermediate stop of Rotterdam. So initially the journey will be far from seamless. All passengers will take a Thalys high-speed train to Brussels. Here, they clear security and passport control, before boarding a Eurostar service — perhaps the very train which has run from Amsterdam to Brussels without them. Fares are higher, too — a problem when Amsterdam-London is one of the busiest and most fiercely competitive air routes in Europe. A British Airways spokesperson said: “We know our customers enjoy the choice of 17 flights from London a day, with airports to suit travellers starting their journey from all across the region.” Meanwhile easyJet flies from four London airports to Amsterdam, offering 21 daily flights each way. “We carry 1.9m passengers a year and provide easy and affordable fares from £29.99 one way,” said a spokesperson. But Mark Smith, the rail guru known as The Man In Seat Sixty One, told The Independent: “This is a massively important air route, and most importantly high-speed rail can get you there in under four hours. And these days, if you can go from the centre of one city to the centre of another city in under four hours, then you can start competing for both business and leisure travel on that route.” The train was set for a clear run through northern France, where the vast majority of rail services have been cancelled due to a rolling strike by employees of the state rail enterprise, SNCF. Ten Eurostar trains between London and Paris have been cancelled as a result of the industrial action. Click here for Trainline discount codes More about Eurostar | Amsterdam travel | British Airways | Easyjet | SNCF | Show{{#moreThan3_total}} {{value_total}} {{/moreThan3_total}} comments INDY/GO newsletter Time to Travel! ____________________ Enter your email address (BUTTON) Continue (BUTTON) Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid Email already exists. Log in to update your newsletter preferences Register with your social account or click here to log in receiveIndyTravelNew [ ] I would like to receive news on where to go and what to know, every Saturday by email Update newsletter preferences Comments Share your thoughts and debate the big issues Learn more (BUTTON) {{#singleComment_p}}{{value_p}} Independent Premium comment{{/singleComment_p}}{{^singleComment_p}}{{value_p}} Independent Premium comments{{/singleComment_p}} (BUTTON) {{#singleComment_open}}{{value}} open comment{{/singleComment_open}}{{^singleComment_open}}{{value}} open comments{{/singleComment_open}} Open Comments Join the discussion (BUTTON) Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. * You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully * Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable * Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties * We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique Only letters and numbers accepted ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (BUTTON) Post (BUTTON) {{#moreThanOne}} * Newest first * Oldest first * Most liked {{/moreThanOne}} Loading comments... {{^comments}} There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts {{/comments}} {{#comments}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} {{/replies}} {{/replies}} {{/comments}} Loading comments... {{^comments}} There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts {{/comments}} {{#comments}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (BUTTON) Cancel (BUTTON) Post (BUTTON) {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (BUTTON) Cancel (BUTTON) Post (BUTTON) {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} {{/replies}} {{/replies}} {{/comments}} {{#showMore}} (BUTTON) Read more {{/showMore}} Minds Comments Join the discussion (BUTTON) Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. * You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully * Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable * Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties * We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. {{^nickname}} Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique {{/nickname}} ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (BUTTON) Post (BUTTON) {{#moreThanOne_p}} * Newest first * Oldest first * Most liked {{/moreThanOne_p}} Loading comments... {{^comments}} There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts {{/comments}} {{#comments}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} {{/replies}} {{/replies}} {{/comments}} Loading comments... {{^comments}} There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts {{/comments}} {{#comments}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (BUTTON) Cancel (BUTTON) (BUTTON) Post {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} Reply {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} Create a commenting name to join the debate ____________________ (BUTTON) Submit Please try again, the name must be unique ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ (BUTTON) Cancel (BUTTON) (BUTTON) Post {{#replies}} {{sender.name}} {{dateTime}} {{{commentText}}} {{#sender.isSelf}} Delete {{/sender.isSelf}} (BUTTON) {{posVotes}} (BUTTON) {{negVotes}} {{/replies}} {{/replies}} {{/comments}} {{#showMore_p}} (BUTTON) Read more {{/showMore_p}} (BUTTON) Follow comments Enter your email to follow new comments on this article. ____________________ (BUTTON) Subscribe Thanks for subscribing! {{errorMessage}} (BUTTON) Vote Are you sure you want to submit this vote? (BUTTON) Submit vote (BUTTON) Cancel You must be logged in to vote. (BUTTON) Report Comment Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? (BUTTON) Cancel (BUTTON) Flag comment This comment has been flagged. (BUTTON) Subscribe to Independent Premium to debate the big issues Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. (BUTTON) Subscribe Already registered? Log in (BUTTON) Report Comment Are you sure you want to mark this comment as inappropriate? (BUTTON) Flag comment (BUTTON) Cancel This comment has been flagged. (BUTTON) Delete Comment Are you sure you want to delete this comment? (BUTTON) Cancel (BUTTON) Delete comment Deleting comment... This comment has been deleted. This comment has been deleted. (BUTTON) About The Independent commenting Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. (BUTTON) Subscribe Already registered? Log in Sponsored features {{title}} * Get in touch + Contact us + Jobs + * Our products + Subscriptions + Install our apps + Archive * Other publications + Evening Standard + Novaya Gazeta * Extras + All topics + Voucher codes + Advertising guide + Syndication * Legal + Code of conduct and complaints + Contributors + Cookie policy + Privacy notice + User policies [unip?en=page_view]