One factor has disappointed Eurostar’s Dutch customers for many months.

As reported by Business Traveller, although Eurostar can operate direct London-Amsterdam trains, it cannot do the same for Amsterdam-London because the UK government has not yet granted permission.

But now, according to news from Dutch media and the website of Germany’s Deutsche Bahn (which displays rail schedules across Europe), it appears through Amsterdam-London trains will operate from March 31.

Previous thinking was to launch direct services by January 2020. But according to NS (Dutch Rail) spokesperson Hessel Koster: “We aim to start the full timetable to London from March 31.”

Deutsche Bahn displays the direct Amsterdam-London schedule from March 31.

Bahn.co.uk lists Amsterdam departures at 0747, 1346 and 1847, which would give London St Pancras arrival times of 1057, 1657 and 2157, respectively.

These timings represent a saving of around 50 minutes on existing schedules which require a change at Brussels Midi (for passengers to clear UK immigration and security checks).

Today the industry magazine Railway Gazette (@railwaygazette) tweeted: “NS CEO Roger Van Boxtel: the treaty for Amsterdam-London Eurostar service ‘is sealed but not delivered yet.’”

Mr Van Boxel was speaking at a rail conference currently taking place in Amsterdam.

Here in London, a Eurostar spokesperson told Business Traveller, “We look forward to introducing our direct service from the Netherlands to London as soon as the government has agreed a treaty to allow us to do so.

“As part of our preparations, the route has been planned within timetables as these are scheduled several months in advance. We will confirm start date and details as soon as possible.”

However the above timings provide an indication of what travellers can expect when through services to London commence.

eurostar.com, bahn.co.uk