After launching its first direct London-Amsterdam service in 2018, Eurostar is finally ready to offer a direct return train from the Dutch capital back to the UK.
The initial roll-out was pushed back several times due to red tape at the border – passengers were previously required to board a Thalys train on the return journey and change at Brussels to go through passport control.
Today marks the first preview train, which is expected to take 4hr and 9m, arriving at London St Pancras at 11.57am after departing Amsterdam at 7.48am (local time) – and The Independent has bagged a seat onboard.
Eurostar has said direct tickets between the two cities will go on sale on 11 February, with the first Amsterdam-London services starting on 30 April, and the Rotterdam-London train launching on 18 May.
Follow all the latest from the inaugural train service below.
And we're here! At precisely 11am: three minutes behind schedule. Not bad for a first go, Eurostar. I can't help but believe the hype - with a direct service both ways, rail travel can finally take on the airlines when it comes to the Amsterdam-London route.
Not long until we hit London St Pancras, according to the announcements - I feel like I just got onboard. I'm guessing it won't be my last time taking this smooth-as-silk service though.
We've just been told that, when we get to London, we'll have to go through passport control again, because this is an "exceptional service" rather than a commercial one. Never fear - passengers won't have to do this come April.
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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has welcomed the new direct Eurostar rail connection between London and Amsterdam.
He said:
We’re continuing to invest in modern, efficient transport links with the continent so our businesses and tourism industry can flourish.
The days of passengers being forced to decamp from the train at Brussels to file through passport control will soon be over, as we look forward to direct, return, high-speed services to Amsterdam and beyond.
We're through the tunnel and officially back in the UK. Where has the time gone?
We're in the Channel Tunnel - speeding UNDER THE SEA - a phenomenon that never ceases to fill me with awe. And the internet still works! It must be witchcraft.
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The lovely sustainability expert just warned us off eating dairy as I was shoving a giant wedge of camembert in my mouth from the cheese plate. Oh, the shame.
We're currently enjoying a keynote speech on sustainability and responsible travel given by an expert - encouraging us to think more about how we travel and whether we need to fly. Am feeling pretty smug about my decision to go flight-free this year as part of The Independent's 20 Pledges for 2020 campaign:
We're just outside Lille now - when the standard Amsterdam-London service starts up, it will stop here. But today we're passing straight through without stopping.
Eurostar has released its timetable for the first two daily Amsterdam-London trains. The first will depart at 7.48am and arrive at 10.57am, the second will depart at 6.48pm and arrive at 9.57pm. Both services will run Monday to Friday; on Saturdays just the morning train will run, and on Sundays only the evening service will run.
Plans are afoot to expand to three daily trains and, eventually, to launch a fourth.
Bye Brussels... We're off and away, travelling direct to our final stop: London St Pancras.
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Since the launch of the London-Amsterdam service and a few other key routes, the Netherlands has seen an uptick in people travelling by rail.
CEO Mike Cooper seems to think so.
"We think it's going to be a hugely credible alternative to flying and a sustainable alternative to flying as well."
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We're not far from our next stop now - Brussels. At the moment, this is normally where you would have to change trains, getting the Thalys to here and then alighting to go through passport control and security before boarding a Eurostar to London. But today we'll skip all that and carry straight on - and paying customers can do the same from 30 April 2020.
Still working my way through breakfast - we've crossed the border into Belgium and are just going through Antwerp now.
Eurostar are really emphasising the environmental benefits of training rather than planing between the Netherlands and the UK, and are hoping this direct return service will mean they can properly take on the airlines the way they did with London-Paris.
Mike Cooper, Chief Executive of Eurostar, said:
Our services from the UK to the Netherlands have proved very popular with over half a million travellers since launch. Our fully direct service marks an exciting advance for high-speed rail and provides consumers with a comfortable, environmentally friendly alternative to the airlines on one of Europe’s busiest leisure and business routes.
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And we're off again! Farewell Rotterdam. Next stop: Brussels.
Well, that was fast - we're about to pull into Rotterdam Central Station - about 35 minutes after leaving Amsterdam.
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