2 ms·

I have traveled between Amsterdam and London by Eurostar and by plane, and I don't see why anyone would take the train, considering that it takes much longer an

I have traveled between Amsterdam and London by Eurostar and by plane, and I don't see why anyone would take the train, considering that it takes much longer and also costs much more. To put some numbers to this, if I were to travel to London on December 13th (a Wednesday), I'm looking at 120 euro for a five hour trip by train. Or I can fly for 76 euro and be there in an hour. Oh, and the train also requires you to be there an hour early, so you don't get the advantage of showing up late either.

laurencerowe 3y ago
I’ve made this trip by train in the past (changing at Brussels). It is a little slower but you need to consider the time getting to and from the airports. Unless you’re flying from London City Airport you’re only really saving an hour. The train is far more pleasant. This was pre-Brexit though when passport control was much faster and I only had to show up half an hour early for the train.
- agent327 3y ago
  From most of the London airports you can get to central London in about an hour. Add another two hours to be early at the airport. Travel time to the airport (Schiphol) for me is 15 minutes, so totale 4h 15m. But wait! The train also requires you to be there an hour early (Eurostar actually recommends to be there 90 minutes early), and travel time to Amsterdam is 35 minutes, so the train journey now stands at 6h 35m. What aspect of the train makes it far more pleasant? Because I don't think I agree with that, not on this particular trip.
  - laurencerowe 3y ago
    I was going city centre to city centre. If I lived near the airport I’d probably have taken the plane instead. Being on the train is just a lot more relaxed in my experience. It’s much quieter and there are far fewer changes to make. Having to be there an hour or more early now obviously makes things less convenient on the train than it was for me when I lived in London 15 years ago. I got there half an hour early and it took less than 10 minutes to get through security and passport security. Last time I flew into Heathrow it took me 40 minutes to get from the plane to Heathrow underground station with no checked bags and no queue at passport control. It’s probably not as bad flying on a larger plane from London where you get a gate but I’ve spent well over 30 minutes taxiing and waiting for the bus to meet the plane at Schiphol which was about as long as my flight from Norwich.

laurencerowe 3y ago

I’ve made this trip by train in the past (changing at Brussels). It is a little slower but you need to consider the time getting to and from the airports. Unless you’re flying from London City Airport you’re only really saving an hour. The train is far more pleasant. This was pre-Brexit though when passport control was much faster and I only had to show up half an hour early for the train.

agent327 3y ago
From most of the London airports you can get to central London in about an hour. Add another two hours to be early at the airport. Travel time to the airport (Schiphol) for me is 15 minutes, so totale 4h 15m. But wait! The train also requires you to be there an hour early (Eurostar actually recommends to be there 90 minutes early), and travel time to Amsterdam is 35 minutes, so the train journey now stands at 6h 35m. What aspect of the train makes it far more pleasant? Because I don't think I agree with that, not on this particular trip.
- laurencerowe 3y ago
  I was going city centre to city centre. If I lived near the airport I’d probably have taken the plane instead. Being on the train is just a lot more relaxed in my experience. It’s much quieter and there are far fewer changes to make. Having to be there an hour or more early now obviously makes things less convenient on the train than it was for me when I lived in London 15 years ago. I got there half an hour early and it took less than 10 minutes to get through security and passport security. Last time I flew into Heathrow it took me 40 minutes to get from the plane to Heathrow underground station with no checked bags and no queue at passport control. It’s probably not as bad flying on a larger plane from London where you get a gate but I’ve spent well over 30 minutes taxiing and waiting for the bus to meet the plane at Schiphol which was about as long as my flight from Norwich.