Eurostar has canceled direct trains between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands through at least Thursday, July 2, following a fire that damaged railway cables in the Rotterdam area. Trains from London are running only as far as Brussels, and passengers are advised to postpone or cancel their trips, if possible.
International Eurostar service between London and the Netherlands is severely disrupted following a fire at the railway infrastructure near Rotterdam. The operator announced that stops in Amsterdam and Rotterdam have been canceled, and trains on this route are running only between London St Pancras and Brussels.
According to reports in the Dutch media, the fire affected a cable duct and caused a major power outage, which halted rail traffic south of Rotterdam. Domestic train service on the line between Rotterdam and Zwijndrecht has also been suspended while the infrastructure manager ProRail carries out repairs.
Eurostar says it does not expect services to return to normal before July 3.
Trains from London are terminating in Brussels
Eurostar has informed passengers that trains from the UK cannot continue on to the Netherlands and will run only as far as Brussels. The operator warns that a limited number of trains will run between France, Belgium, and Amsterdam, but these will not stop at Schiphol or Rotterdam.
Trains running between the Netherlands, Brussels, and Paris are being rerouted via Utrecht, which adds up to an hour to the travel time. Available capacity is limited, and Eurostar advises passengers to travel to or from the Netherlands only if absolutely necessary.
“We strongly recommend that you postpone or cancel your travel plans wherever possible. Changes can be made free of charge, and full refunds are available. We apologize for the inconvenience,” the operator said.
Warning for British Passengers
The British Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for the Netherlands, warning that Eurostar services between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are severely disrupted following a fire near Rotterdam Centraal station.
British authorities advise passengers to check the latest information with the transport operator and on the Eurostar website before traveling.
Passengers with reservations between Amsterdam or Rotterdam and London can request a refund for their tickets. The same option is available to those who choose not to travel.
Second major disruption for Eurostar in a week
The incident in Rotterdam comes shortly after other problems for Eurostar. Last week, the operator canceled several trains between London and Paris due to the heatwave in England and France.
Also last week, a Eurostar train carrying approximately 400 passengers broke down near Leuven, Belgium, amid high temperatures. Three people were taken to the hospital after passengers were stranded on the train under difficult conditions.
Share on: 
