My dad bought shares in the Channel Tunnel when they were originally sold, so as a young kid I was fortunate to be among the first to travel on the Eurostar. Before our trip he told me the fish story 🐠 my jaw dropped, and I was like ‘wow’ 😲. To this day finding out the truth counts as one the most bitterly disappointing moments of my life 😂😂😂
Thanks Noel! It was great to meet you and Paul as well! I too find the channel tunnel amazing and I know it's safe, but there's a little bit of me that feels slightly nervous being so far under ground (and water) haha!
Was cool to finally meet up! Cool video too Noel, Eurostar is now my first thought if considering a trip to Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam. Fingers crossed that in future we can get direct services to Germany too!
@@PutYourPJSOnASMR thinking about being under water , the channel tunnel is an underground tunnel , kind of like every other underground railway tunnel. like the london tube system. you panic on those ?
The absolute state of some of the people in this comment section who are upset that Noel basically said "when we work together we can do great things" and "we're closer than ever to our European neighbours". Imagine thinking benign statements like that are offensive haha Great video, love riding with Eurostar!
@@aishduauauehf One is a philandering serial liar sacked twice for it, the other hired National Front racists to help him run UKIP. Time you got better heroes.
I think that Amsterdam is fast becoming one of the most important cities in Europe behind London and Paris as much for its handy location and that it's one of the most important hubs in Europe. On top of that it has an extremely beautiful city, very friendly people and a great airport and a brilliant airline. The Dutch people are so easygoing and helpful too.
Amsterdam has the great mix of the old and new. Everyone thinks the entire city is just canals, bikes and old tall buildings. The suburbs and outskirts are bleeding edge modern and look like everywhere else. Huge retail parks, everyone in cars, big housing estates with 1970s flats, gleaming glass office blocks, etc.
Hi Noel, just to let you know, "we" at Eurotunnel installed 4g in our tunnel, not Eurostar. Please don`t confuse the two, like the media do, we are totally separate companies, just like Boots and M&S.
My dad helped work on the channel tunnel and you can see a photo of him outside the toilets in the Dover terminal. When I was a teacher taking students over to France I would proudly show them my dads photo. Then see how gullible they were by asking if they could see any fish out of the window when in the tunnel- had kids fall for it every time!
In addition to being a much nicer city than usually thought, the greatest appeal of Rotterdam is business. It's the largest port in Europe and a major international petroleum trading centre as well. So, many if not most of the passengers you saw alighting there were probably business travellers.
@@pirate1012, the HQ is just the administrative part, but Shell still has very large operations in the Netherlands and particularly in Rotterdam. A large part of the oil supplying not only the Netherlands, but also Belgium and Germany, goes through Rotterdam. Besides, it's not only Shell: it was a catalyst to the appearance a large number of independent oil traders and suppliers of oil prospecting equipment, consultancy, etc., and they sell their products and services to the whole world. So, Rotterdam is still big at that.
@@immytweed4607 Yes, and that’s a good thing. Big up the Dutch for supplying goods, including MDMA and more. it’s a shame there’s a shortage now though and some great producers got arrested or stopped producing.
Great video! The Eurostar can not stop at Schiphol Airport because the platforms are not long enough (and some other issues) to serve the train. We are working on a solution for that.
Is that correct ? When Eurostar said it would launch Amsterdam services several years ago there were stops planned at Antwerp, Rotterdam and Schiphol. Isn't the main issue the situation with Customs/Immigration/Security clearance which is why the current terminals (specially built for Eurostar) at Rotterdam and Amsterdam still *cannot be used.
@@alexmcwhirter6602 the train can run TO Amsterdam. coming back FROM Amsterdam the Eurostar train operates as a Thalys serving stations as far as Brussels as there aren't border checks set up at the other stations. Passengers for London cannot take this train they would not be able to get through passport checks in time to reboard. So an earlier Intercity Direct or Thalys service makes the easy connection at Brussels to Eurostar services. Schiphol is a problem because the train is double the length of most other trains that service the station, and would not fit on the platform and possibly even block the points for other platforms.
@@JBS319 Thanks. Wasn't aware of the shorter Schiphol platform. Yes I am well aware the issues at Amsterdam/Rotterdam re immigration/security etc. I have been reporting on Eurostar since 1994 and have been writing many pieces over the years. I mentioned Schiphol because Eurostar itself announced there would be an en route stop (at Schiphol) when the Amsterdam service would start. In the end it never happened...and neither did the planned stop at Antwerp.
Alex McWhirter due to the short platforms we cannot build Immigration/Custom areas. There is a group looking to change the whole Schiphol Plaza area to create more space for passengers by train and other transportation options.
@@Stijs Platform is not short, it can fit a double thalys so also a E320. the platform just hasn't got the space, neither does above ground schiphol for extra immigration. It is also not possible to close one track, you have to close two in case you want to create a "secure track"..
I visited Amsterdam on Friday and returned Monday, (slightly bad timing with Corona), I flew from Leeds Bradford with KLM and the flight only took 50 minutes! Amazing how you can be in Yorkshire one moment and then in Amsterdam before you can even finish an hour long TV episode...although of course then there is the hour trip to the airport on top! Schiphol was a good destination for me as I booked one of the IBIS hotels around there for £50 a night which was fantastic value (again I suspect Corona had influence in pricing!) which had a regular free shuttle bus to/from the airport, so I could just return to the airport and jump on the train into central Amsterdam...the flight back was fun too due to the 1 hour timezone change, which essentially means it takes you 0 minutes to get back to the UK! ;)
Noel... the answer to 'The appeal of Rotterdam'. The Netherlands' second city is a fantastic city. Almost completely destroyed during WWII, it has been rebuilt and is a vibrant, modern metropolis. You should check it out as it's a great contrast to Amsterdam.
You should visit Rotterdam Noel, it is a wonderful city and much more civilised than the tourist maelstrom that is Amsterdam. I love to visit Rotterdam.
I quite agree. There is plenty to see and do in Rotterdam and Amsterdam gets far too crowded during the peak months. I always say, there is a lot more to see in The Netherlands than just Amsterdam.
I totally agree with you, the architecture is stunning and the people are great, not being as busy as Amsterdam they seem to have more time for you. I’m not saying the people of Amsterdam aren’t friendly, just busier. I recently stayed at Zandvoort and albeit 30 mins from the capital it was so much more chilled. Great country!
Check out Rotterdam Markthal too Noel. It’s an amazing high end food and restaurant area in an incredible arched building - awesome architecture and eating options.
albedo0point39 - ignore this person Noel, you will end up fat from the heavenly food on sale and get a sore neck looking up at the wonderful artwork! (Only joking albedo)😂 great place
For journeys under 6 hours, I always prefer to take a train, especially in Europe. Less hassle than dealing with an airport and definitely more leg room!
travelled on Eurostar many times, Been to Amsterdam many times too (But never on Eurostar) I always stop off at Brussels midi and get the Inter City to Schiphol which is ear our hotels as we never stay in central Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport has everything we require it's like a big shopping complex. Nice video, I love European Travel, next year Germany
I used to watch Paul lucas' vids when I first started watching these travel/flight review vids, but then for whatever reason I eventually switched from watching his vids, to Noel's. So it was cool/funny to learn Noel actually knew him
I just took the Eurostar from Paris to London last month. It was wonderful. I truly enjoyed it. I think it is more economical and saves time. Very relaxing and definitely more space.
The best part of rail travel vs air travel is you dont have to have all of that dead time with Check-In, Baggage drop, waiting, boarding, taxi'ing (is that a real word?) etc. Although I still love Air Travel, particularly if you get lounge and business class 😊
Kelly Meredith, DC despite the slightly longer travel time the train always seems a hell of a lot more efficient, and I always manage to get a lot more work done on the train rather than being constantly interrupted and having to move around in airport.
So great that you met up with the 2 Pauls. Enjoyed your journey across the channel. The train ride looked good. Hopefully someday I can enjoy a trip on eurostar too.
Very nice. Thank you. I've enjoyed traveling Eurostar many times between London and Paris but not since they moved from Waterloo and certainly not on the new trains. I'm looking forward to both on my next trip in March.
First went to Amsterdam in 1986,boy has it changed! for a 21yr old from the home counties of the uk, it was mind blowing, the smell of weed, the windows the drug scene around zeedijk was fasinating, the lovely church bells ,trams etc ,i could go on . ive always loved the blend of old and new in their architecture. well ive been there many times since then and always enjoyed Amsterdam but also going to the local towns and villages also. Haarlem is a gem of a city.i was lucky enough to work there for a time back in 2000. my preferred route was from London on a boat train to Dover and then jetfoil to Ostende and then to Roosendaal ,or later the Eurostar and then the Benelux train.I didnt mind the extra day or so extra ,because for getting their was part of the experience.I last went their 2 years ago after a gap of 8 years and just felt Amsterdam for many has become just another place to tick off the list, all those fake cheese shops everywhere and burger joints and also the crowds . i think its lost some of the charm and atmosphere that i remember from years ago .still ive got my memories of how it used to be.
I know what you mean, it used to be edgier until about 2007-8 I think when they started putting cameras everywhere around the red light etc, and chased the blatant dealers & clientele away, people think it's edgy and full of dealers now but back then they were standing on the bridge near the Grasshopper in broad daylight shouting ''COCAINE! ECSTASY!'' like it was a market selling fish and cheese, with guys posted on corners as lookouts (especially down to Beursstraat copshop) to whistle a code if scowtoe (police) were on the way (showing off my Surinamese language skills there lol). It's definitely lost it's mojo in the centre and unlike before, the tourists are cocky and not slightly in awe and a bit scared like they were earlier, they now make up more than 90% of the people you see in the centre, to such an extent that nowadays most Amsterdammers avoid the red light and the centre of Amsterdam like it's the plague.
@@simonh6371 well at least we were lucky enough to have seen how it used to be, we still have our memories of the place s, so its not all bad .i would still go again ,but just for the culture and not indulge in anything naughty, knudge knudge wink wink ha ha lol !!!
I've known a few Dutch people over the years and none of them think Amsterdam is the best city in the country. They all prefer the likes of Rotterdam, Utrecht, or small quaint villages in the middle of nowhere. I've also found the French have the exact (if not worse) complaints about France that the British do about London. Seems to be a very common thing for locals to think their capital is crap... and lots of people don't realise Amsterdam is only the capital for constitutional reasons and the government isn't based there.
In this class there *should* be a number of 'solo' seats you can reserve. I am sure there must be some on the Siemens trainsets (these run to Amsterdam) ... they certainly exist on the older Alstom trainsets (several of which remain in service).
In standard premier and business there are solo seats available during booking, and if you’re traveling with other people it’s more enjoyable to talk if you’re not sitting next to eachother
@@maiden5427 Yes, trains are difficult to turn around and can travel in both directions. With this setup half of the passengers will always face in the direction of travel, rather than everyone facing backwards sometimes.
Personally, I hate the aircraft style seats as I find them cramped and claustrophobic. On these seats, you can always hide behind a book / paper / laptop / phone or look out of the window if you're not feeling sociable..
Loving all of these train videos. Wheres Geoff Marshall when you need him? Eurostar looks great btw. Id love to travel on that. Its funny to think about how fast it goes compared to the little sprinter I usually get on to work.
welcome in Amsterdam :) We love to have you and everybody else. Something different then flying. I prefer flying, however, I will try the Eurostar soon!
I took the Eurostar from London to Paris the same year you did this video and my seat mate was a woman who fought with someone on her phone and then cried the entire way to Paris. YAY!
Actually London Amsterdam is 581km, whereas Sydney to Melbourne is around 950km rail distance. So it’s not a fair comparison. London Berlin is a similar distance and it takes about 9.5 hours with changes.
I remember my first trip on Eurostar. Just last year almost literally. I loved the boarding process and the seating and service. London to Paris. And I am an American
@@rumeunner3245 How is brexit relevant? Norway isn't even the EU in the first place tf? Travelling Europe as a Norweigan would be easier than it would be for an American which they're replying to.
@@rumeunner3245 Exiled Viking 1 month ago @hood_avatar of course, your country didn't suffer brexit............. of course your country didnt democratically vote in a referendum ..... there you go, fixed it for you :)
I can't wait for my trip to London, Belgium, and Germany on EuroStar! I went on Eurostar about 4 years ago. Such a wonderful trip. We did the Disneyland Paris trip then. Staying at St. Pancras again. They have a wonderful concierge service that will take your bads to the train! Europe has the most amazing trains!
Really good information Noel I'll be taking this service in the future to visit my daughter and son in law in the Hague as I am not good flying and this looks a more relaxed journey
Looks really nice, took the car transporter train when i was a child a few years after the tunnel opened, was amazed that we were going under the sea in a train! Great video!
Have to say the older I get the more I enjoy rail travel than being crammed into cattle class on an A320 etc. We have taken the London to Marseille Eurostar (from Ashford to Avignon) in Standard Premier. It's great, except for the hour stopover for security and passport check in Lille on the return journey.
Hi Noel, you should have gone off at Rotterdam and take the train to Schiphol Airport from there: it is faster (and maybe even cheaper). The connecting train leaves just a couple of minutes after the Eurostar from the same platform and it runs every 15 minutes (except for Sunday I think). The reason Eurostar doesn't call at Schiphol Airport is because there is no space for a special platform which can be locked off and where passengers are only allowed access after going through customs. Amsterdam (platform 15) and Rotterdam (platform 1) do have such facilities.
amstevenson Spoken by someone who clearly does not have to live with the consequences of open borders. My street in London is now home to multiple HMO's full of Polish men who drink and fight all nigh then seemingly spend the day flytipping anything they can lay their hands on. The family butcher became a polish supermarket and the one decent pub became a sports bar showing foreign channels and providing space for impromptu punch ups. The local school is devoid of white British children and one by one neighbours are selling and moving to the country. Hope I never get ill because it's now impossible to see a doctor given the population boom- ten to each house in some cases. I work with a lovely Romanian guy, who proudly tells me how much he sends back to his Romanian family each month and how he has been able to buy land over there by spending nothing in the UK. His elderly mother moved over to be with him and syphon thousands off the NHS. Yeah, modern Europe is great, if you're a formerly impoverished Eastern European.
@@spencerwilton5831 I invite you to travel to Nova Gorica in Slovenia or Gorizia in Italy (it's the same town, just with a border running through it). Before the open borders you literally couldn't cross the market square in town (a strange thing to know if you're standing there). Nowadays the fact that both sides of the market are in different countries is invisible to people who don't know it. There are more borders like this that people cross regularly without realising it wasn't once this easy. Nowadays Europe has loads of highways there are still customs offices you can drive by in about 5 seconds instead of the sometimes hour long queues that were there once. Furthermore closed borders does not necessarily stop immigration. You don't "have to live with the consequences of open borders", you're just racist.
Spencer Wilton all entirely down to poor government policy and the lack of any sort of strategic plan, not freedom of movement in of itself. Brexiteers should always have held the UK government to account over this first before going for the zero sum game of leaving the EU, in doing so they’ve excused the government and allowed their inaction to continue.
Great video as always, I've just posted up my video on the Euro Tunnel. Which for anyone who doesnt know is the Car transporter train that takes you from Folkestone UK to Claias France. I also ofter travel using Virgin trains and Eurotunnel. Keep up the great work Noel
I love Paul Lucas' channel, I found yours through the recommended videos. Started with the 4 cheapest flights mystery challenge and have been loving the rest!
Noel, I love your vids and am catching up on the rail playlist now. Though I can't help but point out at 4:42, your fly is undone. Keep up with the vids. It's my little escape while I'm stuck in lockdowns in Sydney :(
Well firstly we British have never forgotten that, and secondly judging by your spelling ''neighbor's'' they aren't your neighbours as you are American!
@@tomwilson5108 Really, with a genitive apostrophe too? I don't buy it. If it was ''neighbors'' without an apostrophe maybe. I believe that you aren't American, I just think you don't know spelling or grammar.
A real pity that the proposed regional hubs for Eurostar didn't take shape, I took a train from Glasgow Central in September and finding a through ticket via Eurostar was impossible. It would include your Virgin train ticket to London but and the pricing didn't reflect what it could cost separately and most annoyingly many trains you can take are not available. For example, it shows no trains available on Sunday but I, of course, did get a train to London and onwards to Glasgow by booking separately. I wrote afterwards to my local MSP who secured a response from Eurostar which basically tried to explain the omission of some tickets but noted no plans to improve the availability and reach into Scotland.
Hello Noel good video as usual and yes it’s a wonderful piece of civil engineering that is well constructed with safety security comfort high skilled precision workmanship hence great efficiency and that’s what I’m talking about the channel tunnel and very much likewise the trains especially that they’re updating the rolling stock at given times and that’s the great reason that we’re now well connected to the European mainland and as it’s been running for twenty five years it seems that the people of today mainly the youngsters tend to take it for granted but it’s amazing now that these days not only are we doing paris Brussels but we are now doing Amsterdam and I did hear that we could do cologne and hopefully other cities in various countries across Europe now for me as impressed as I am about this railway phenomenon I have not travelled on it though I hope to do so in the not to distant future so that’s it for now so until then take care and cheerio
Brilliant video Noel 👍 good to see the x2 Paul’s 😎 I watch their channels too. In comparison I travel from Leeds to Edinburgh each week which takes the same 3.5hrs 🤬 train travel in this country sucks!
Noel - Glad you reported on this Eurostar service and I noted you took the new (third) daily service. I feel the main advantage of standard premier is its use of first class seating. Business premier, which uses the same seating, is simply too expensive. If you found the Siemens trains to be more spacious (than the older Alsotom sets) it's because they are built for the mainland European gauge. It means that, unlike the Alstom sets which can run on most UK mainlines, the Siemens trains are restricted to HS2. I noticed that as you arrived into Brussels Midi you could see one of the ex-Alstom Eurostar sets (green and white livery) which is on loan to IZY (Thalys' budget Paris-Brussels service). Thanks for a most interesting report.
MR Thank you so much 😊 I am going to Amsterdam in May 22/5/20 and I was looking at Eurostar. it’s great 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👨🏽🦱🏆🏆🥇🥇🌹🍺🌹🍺🌹🍺🌹🍺🌹🍺🌹🍺 thanks again looking forward to your next trip 👍👍
Hi Paul A great video and a bonus to see you with the two Paul's who I follow like yourself. I would to try the Eurostars and you have given a real insight into what Eurostars delivers. I look forward to seeing your next video. Kind regards DS
Great video Noel! Eurostar is a nice and relaxing way to travel between London & Amsterdam. I tried it out last year as well. The food all looks perfectly fine! :) Regards, Brendan
The reason for the eurostar not stopping at Schiphol is that there isnt enough room for security checkpoints on the train station. The thalys does stop there however, (since it doesn't require you to go through security, compared to the eurostar service).
when the Pauls came on I was like "HEY THATS PAUL ..AND THATS PAUL!! " I watch their videos too. how did the world not blow up when the 3 of you got in the same room?
It's marginally more convenient than a flight. Flight is 1 hr, but you'd spend some time and money going to/from the airport. Eurostar is somewhat more expensive (than non-budget airlines, it's much more expensive than budget airlines) and takes 3 hrs, but it takes you downtown to downtown + you have internet the whole time. So... for a short distance like that, train barely wins. But for anything over 400 miles, flying makes a lot more sense.
Yep. They expect to start the direct Amsterdam-London service by the end of April. Meanwhile the immigration/customs facilities in Amsterdam will be tested on select days by Dutch railway employees which will include a direct Amsterdam-London train ride and back the same day. I will be one of those test dummies in a couple of weeks. It’s gonna be a fun day trip! :)
The UK is not mainland Europe , it’s and island you spastic. Europe is mainly connected by land with the exception of Malta , Cyprus and the United Kingdom , and Ireland.
In October the reverse will be possible too: direct connection from Amsterdam to London with all security/luggage checks/passports checks in Amsterdam Central Station!
I travelled in Standard Premier to Amsterdam during July of last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm glad you enjoyed it too. Although I plan to be in Amsterdam during the beginning of May next year for Twitchcon but I think I'll just take the flight from Birmingham this time, ha ha!
Last time I travelled to London I really considered taking the Eurostar, as I would love to check out this unique route. But these prices are crazy expensive, so I ended up flying with Easyjet, for a tenth of the train ticket price.
so I ended up flying with Easyjet, for a tenth of the train ticket price. how long did you spend at the airport, going through customs, passports, security? then crammed in cattle class with the screaming hordes. then you still have to get from schipol to amsterdam. or, get on a train, put your feet up, and watch the countryside roll past. i know which i prefer. each to his own :)
@@richard6440 Good point, but you missed that not anybody lives at Shiphol. I would have to get from Germany by Train to an Eurostar Terminal and change there. So flying was way shorter.
Hi Noel, the Eurostar that I took on 22nd June 2019 between London and Brussels Midl, did touch 319 kmph or around 199/200 mph after it crossed to France, but I remember it travelling at 199/200 kmph or around 124/125 mph within England till (probably) Dover and its speed does increase even when it is under the Chunnel, I think it is allowed to cross or touch 320 kmph only during its run within France and also probably in Belgium and the Netherlands. I thought you mentioned that Eurostar does 186 mph in England (too!), which I think is not the case. Later, on 25th June I came back by flight from Zurich to London and the next day, I took the Virgin from London (Euston-??) to Liverpool (the station near Albert Docks, yes, it's the) Lime St. railway station, to visit Anfield and buy LFC merchandise and came back the same day. Those Virgins did 199/200 kmph, which I reckon is the max. speed at which fast Inter-city/country trains are allowed to travel in England, including the Eurostar and SNCFs. Am I right?
7:30 Here he passes Antwerpen-Centraal, the most beautiful train station in the world. Btw, Antwerp is a fantastic city! Too bad Eurostar doesn't stop here (yet).
i travel often in my home country the netherlands myself! i pay for a subscription for NS. to travel unlimited with the train in the weekends around the netherlands for 35 euros per month. pretty amazing! definitely for exploring and photographing new places! anyways nice video mate. keep it up!
Good video. 🙂 I now live in Rotterdam and frequently use the service back and forth to the UK. A great service in Standard Premier and very convenient when not having to change in gloomy Brussels.
I'm doing this trip next week, having travelled to Amsterdam both by plane AND the stena line, I'll now be interested to see how,as a disabled passenger ( wheelchair) much it differs from my previous modes of transport. Because I'm in a wheelchair, I've been upgraded from standard class to standard Premium as that's aparently where the wheelchair spaces are located. TO be 100% honest, I dislike long journeys, as i find them tiring and stressful,but from what I've seen SO far,this looks about the least troublesome way to go home. ( Amsterdam being my place of birth and where I lived for years before coming to the UK.
I'm not sure I would class the channel tunnel as crossing the North Sea as you suggested @ 12:21& 13:14.Either the Strait of Dover or the English Channel
Wow that was quite helpful. Due to my visual impairment, I find airports such hard work nowadays (yup, mainly due to poor passenger assistance as you’ve touched upon in another video) - for short hard consider Eurostar if there is help at connections for onward travel
Noel, may I suggest you do the direct train from Zurich main station to Geneva on the ICN, along the Northern shores of lake Bienne and lake Neuchâtel? .... in first class, that is!
Liking the look of those double decker trains! 12:33 Great video as always Noel, you could try the ferry from my home city of Hull across to Amsterdam - sometimes it's very cheap too!
I've used them before in the Netherlands. Pretty good ride. Shame our trains in the UK are a bit sh*t but thats what you get after decades of under-investment.
@@mark-nm4tc The problem is that the UK was really the OG in railways. As a result our infrastructure is hopelessly out of date and our system can't handle double decker trains, because we have the wrong rails and the tunnels aren't tall or wide enough. On the continent most of their infrastructure got rekt during the war and there was a greater need to rebuild afterwards. But the whole Dutch cycling thing is very new - even in the 1970s the Dutch had American attitudes to car ownership, the traffic was absolutely desperate and they were pulling down beautiful old buildings to run motorways just like we see in Glasgow and Birmingham. But they changed course. We didn't.
08:00 I think that many people got off the train in Rotterdam because it's connects much better with the rest of Netherlands in comparison with Amsterdam Centraal. Travelers towards The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen or even Schiphol Airport would normaly transfer here. It would be very beneficial for the Eurostar to sopt at Schiphol Airport or Amsterdam Zuid (South) for connectivity reasons. Unfortunatley that won't happen because their is not enough space to build a Eurostar terminal for border control at those stations
It's not just a question of space ... it's also the expense (both for the construction and the staffing costs). Also for commercial reasons E* wants to have the fastest possible London-Amsterdam timings to compete with air. Ever wondered why it runs non-stop London-Brussels (no stops are made elsewhere in the UK) ?
@@alexmcwhirter6602 Well to be fair and no offence if you are from Kent, but there aren't really any significant cities from London to the tunnel entrance so that would be just bizarre if it stopped anywhere else, even Ashford is just a medium sized nondescript town and not comparable to Lille, Brussels or Rotterdam in terms of size or importance. I think if it stopped at Schiphol then it would be inconsistent if it didn't go to Brussels Zaventem airport too (yes I know it's a tiny re-route) plus there is a strong case to be made for stopping at Antwerp too
Thanks. But one cannot compare BRU with AMS as the latter so many flights compared to the former. Eventually E* will make stops at Ebbsfleet/Ashford as the Amstedam service matures. The point I make is that these Kent stations are ideal for those customers who do not wish to travel to Central London for E*. Remember thete are air services to AMS from *six* London airports !
@@alexmcwhirter6602 True but people in other larger cities along the trajectory could then argue the same, what about people from Hazebroek or Roubaix who don't want to travel to Lille, or people from Kortrijk, Mechelen or Antwerpen who don't want to travel to Brussels, or people from Rosendaal, Dordrecht or Gouda who don't want to travel to Rotterdam? These stations are also ideal for millions of people in these cities and surrounding areas but if it were to stop at these as well as in Ebbsfleet/Ashford, it would no longer be a high speed link. Actually I thought that some Eurostars did stop at Ashford due to the station being called Ashford International...this is why the barracks where I trained in 1989 was demolished and the unit relocated to Chicksands ;)
@@simonh6371 Yes some E* services do stop at Ebbsfleet/Ashford ... in time when the Amsterdam service develops we will surely see one or two services stopping there too. Right now the e320 trains cannot call at Ashford for technical reasons ... one local paper says it's because of a "power spike."
![ALLY - OH MY! [ REACTION ] 'Amarin Nitibhon' #ALLY_OHMY #ALLY #allynitibhon #แอลลี่](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nX9qpHjVfbQ/mqdefault.jpg)
My dad worked on the channel tunnel and I’m always proud of him when I see one of his projects featured and appreciated
For those that haven’t travelled on the Channel Tunnel if you look out the window sometimes you can spot fish swimming under the sea.
No you can’t.
Julian OmsHD that’s why it’s a joke
Julian OmsHD r/woooosh
Julian OmsHD oh Julian sweet innocent Julian
My dad bought shares in the Channel Tunnel when they were originally sold, so as a young kid I was fortunate to be among the first to travel on the Eurostar. Before our trip he told me the fish story 🐠 my jaw dropped, and I was like ‘wow’ 😲. To this day finding out the truth counts as one the most bitterly disappointing moments of my life 😂😂😂
Thanks Noel! It was great to meet you and Paul as well! I too find the channel tunnel amazing and I know it's safe, but there's a little bit of me that feels slightly nervous being so far under ground (and water) haha!
Was cool to finally meet up! Cool video too Noel, Eurostar is now my first thought if considering a trip to Paris/Brussels/Amsterdam. Fingers crossed that in future we can get direct services to Germany too!
Same. I wish it was built above the water :/ I'd love to go to London but thinking about being under water makes me sick and anxious unfortunately 😔😔
@@PutYourPJSOnASMR thinking about being under water , the channel tunnel is an underground tunnel , kind of like every other underground railway tunnel. like the london tube system. you panic on those ?
@@richard6440 this is true
The absolute state of some of the people in this comment section who are upset that Noel basically said "when we work together we can do great things" and "we're closer than ever to our European neighbours". Imagine thinking benign statements like that are offensive haha
Great video, love riding with Eurostar!
People who cannot take that, deserve to be called out and offended
haha you're a remainer! Who R Ya?! We are leaving and Boris and Farage are heroes
@@aishduauauehf Heroes to all the dumby dumbs dumbs
@@aishduauauehf heroes only to the miseducated
@@aishduauauehf One is a philandering serial liar sacked twice for it, the other hired National Front racists to help him run UKIP. Time you got better heroes.
How much of the journey did you do with your trousers undone? 4:43
Gayboy checking his trousers
Joseph Allen suspect
@@yourman7730 yes yes let's call someone gay for pointing out somthing that was right in the middle of the screen you muppet
All 400 miles.
Ha ha I saw that too
I think that Amsterdam is fast becoming one of the most important cities in Europe behind London and Paris as much for its handy location and that it's one of the most important hubs in Europe.
On top of that it has an extremely beautiful city, very friendly people and a great airport and a brilliant airline.
The Dutch people are so easygoing and helpful too.
I would point out Amsterdam has become a known world leader in human centered design.
+1
Indeed 😃
Amsterdam has the great mix of the old and new. Everyone thinks the entire city is just canals, bikes and old tall buildings.
The suburbs and outskirts are bleeding edge modern and look like everywhere else. Huge retail parks, everyone in cars, big housing estates with 1970s flats, gleaming glass office blocks, etc.
Hi Noel, just to let you know, "we" at Eurotunnel installed 4g in our tunnel, not Eurostar. Please don`t confuse the two, like the media do, we are totally separate companies, just like Boots and M&S.
The abrupt change from Dutch countryside to Amsterdam suburbs just before Schiphol was one of my favorite scenes on a train journey.
My dad helped work on the channel tunnel and you can see a photo of him outside the toilets in the Dover terminal. When I was a teacher taking students over to France I would proudly show them my dads photo. Then see how gullible they were by asking if they could see any fish out of the window when in the tunnel- had kids fall for it every time!
In addition to being a much nicer city than usually thought, the greatest appeal of Rotterdam is business. It's the largest port in Europe and a major international petroleum trading centre as well. So, many if not most of the passengers you saw alighting there were probably business travellers.
Also major international sorting centre for coca and smack
It used to be a major petroleum trading centre before Shell moved their HQ to the UK.
@@pirate1012, the HQ is just the administrative part, but Shell still has very large operations in the Netherlands and particularly in Rotterdam. A large part of the oil supplying not only the Netherlands, but also Belgium and Germany, goes through Rotterdam. Besides, it's not only Shell: it was a catalyst to the appearance a large number of independent oil traders and suppliers of oil prospecting equipment, consultancy, etc., and they sell their products and services to the whole world. So, Rotterdam is still big at that.
@@immytweed4607 Yes, and that’s a good thing. Big up the Dutch for supplying goods, including MDMA and more. it’s a shame there’s a shortage now though and some great producers got arrested or stopped producing.
Yeh, Rotterdam is probably a pretty nice city as well, I’d like to visit Rotterdam as well as Amsterdam
Great video!
The Eurostar can not stop at Schiphol Airport because the platforms are not long enough (and some other issues) to serve the train. We are working on a solution for that.
Is that correct ? When Eurostar said it would launch Amsterdam services several years ago there were stops planned at Antwerp, Rotterdam and Schiphol. Isn't the main issue the situation with Customs/Immigration/Security clearance which is why the current terminals (specially built for Eurostar) at Rotterdam and Amsterdam still *cannot be used.
@@alexmcwhirter6602 the train can run TO Amsterdam. coming back FROM Amsterdam the Eurostar train operates as a Thalys serving stations as far as Brussels as there aren't border checks set up at the other stations. Passengers for London cannot take this train they would not be able to get through passport checks in time to reboard. So an earlier Intercity Direct or Thalys service makes the easy connection at Brussels to Eurostar services. Schiphol is a problem because the train is double the length of most other trains that service the station, and would not fit on the platform and possibly even block the points for other platforms.
@@JBS319 Thanks. Wasn't aware of the shorter Schiphol platform. Yes I am well aware the issues at Amsterdam/Rotterdam re immigration/security etc. I have been reporting on Eurostar since 1994 and have been writing many pieces over the years. I mentioned Schiphol because Eurostar itself announced there would be an en route stop (at Schiphol) when the Amsterdam service would start. In the end it never happened...and neither did the planned stop at Antwerp.
Alex McWhirter due to the short platforms we cannot build Immigration/Custom areas. There is a group looking to change the whole Schiphol Plaza area to create more space for passengers by train and other transportation options.
@@Stijs Platform is not short, it can fit a double thalys so also a E320. the platform just hasn't got the space, neither does above ground schiphol for extra immigration. It is also not possible to close one track, you have to close two in case you want to create a "secure track"..
I visited Amsterdam on Friday and returned Monday, (slightly bad timing with Corona), I flew from Leeds Bradford with KLM and the flight only took 50 minutes! Amazing how you can be in Yorkshire one moment and then in Amsterdam before you can even finish an hour long TV episode...although of course then there is the hour trip to the airport on top! Schiphol was a good destination for me as I booked one of the IBIS hotels around there for £50 a night which was fantastic value (again I suspect Corona had influence in pricing!) which had a regular free shuttle bus to/from the airport, so I could just return to the airport and jump on the train into central Amsterdam...the flight back was fun too due to the 1 hour timezone change, which essentially means it takes you 0 minutes to get back to the UK! ;)
Guy from Jurassic Park in the background at 3:35
And Steven Spielberg at 3:16
Noel... the answer to 'The appeal of Rotterdam'.
The Netherlands' second city is a fantastic city.
Almost completely destroyed during WWII, it has been rebuilt and is a vibrant, modern metropolis.
You should check it out as it's a great contrast to Amsterdam.
You should visit Rotterdam Noel, it is a wonderful city and much more civilised than the tourist maelstrom that is Amsterdam. I love to visit Rotterdam.
I quite agree. There is plenty to see and do in Rotterdam and Amsterdam gets far too crowded during the peak months. I always say, there is a lot more to see in The Netherlands than just Amsterdam.
I totally agree with you, the architecture is stunning and the people are great, not being as busy as Amsterdam they seem to have more time for you. I’m not saying the people of Amsterdam aren’t friendly, just busier. I recently stayed at Zandvoort and albeit 30 mins from the capital it was so much more chilled. Great country!
Check out Rotterdam Markthal too Noel. It’s an amazing high end food and restaurant area in an incredible arched building - awesome architecture and eating options.
albedo0point39 - ignore this person Noel, you will end up fat from the heavenly food on sale and get a sore neck looking up at the wonderful artwork! (Only joking albedo)😂 great place
I loved the Haarlem Saturday Market and also Delft.
For journeys under 6 hours, I always prefer to take a train, especially in Europe. Less hassle than dealing with an airport and definitely more leg room!
travelled on Eurostar many times, Been to Amsterdam many times too (But never on Eurostar) I always stop off at Brussels midi and get the Inter City to Schiphol which is ear our hotels as we never stay in central Amsterdam, Schiphol Airport has everything we require it's like a big shopping complex. Nice video, I love European Travel, next year Germany
I used to watch Paul lucas' vids when I first started watching these travel/flight review vids, but then for whatever reason I eventually switched from watching his vids, to Noel's. So it was cool/funny to learn Noel actually knew him
It seems like every flight report channel knows each other. Sam Chui, Jeb Brooks, Paul Wingin, and now I guess Noel Philips all know each other.
I just took the Eurostar from Paris to London last month. It was wonderful. I truly enjoyed it. I think it is more economical and saves time. Very relaxing and definitely more space.
The best part of rail travel vs air travel is you dont have to have all of that dead time with Check-In, Baggage drop, waiting, boarding, taxi'ing (is that a real word?) etc. Although I still love Air Travel, particularly if you get lounge and business class 😊
Heels In Business, I love flying but this seems so much more efficient time wise. But I love business class and the lounges also 😀
Kelly Meredith, DC despite the slightly longer travel time the train always seems a hell of a lot more efficient, and I always manage to get a lot more work done on the train rather than being constantly interrupted and having to move around in airport.
So great that you met up with the 2 Pauls. Enjoyed your journey across the channel. The train ride looked good. Hopefully someday I can enjoy a trip on eurostar too.
Very nice. Thank you. I've enjoyed traveling Eurostar many times between London and Paris but not since they moved from Waterloo and certainly not on the new trains. I'm looking forward to both on my next trip in March.
Very informative, thank you Noel enjoyed your preview, especially useful as considering a London to Rotterdam trip this year.
Glad it was helpful!
First went to Amsterdam in 1986,boy has it changed! for a 21yr old from the home counties of the uk, it was mind blowing, the smell of weed, the windows the drug scene around zeedijk was fasinating, the lovely church bells ,trams etc ,i could go on . ive always loved the blend of old and new in their architecture. well ive been there many times since then and always enjoyed Amsterdam but also going to the local towns and villages also. Haarlem is a gem of a city.i was lucky enough to work there for a time back in 2000. my preferred route was from London on a boat train to Dover and then jetfoil to Ostende and then to Roosendaal ,or later
the Eurostar and then the Benelux train.I didnt mind the extra day or so extra ,because for getting their was part of the experience.I last went their 2 years ago after a gap of 8 years and
just felt Amsterdam for many has become just another place to tick off the list, all those
fake cheese shops everywhere and burger joints and also the crowds . i think its lost some
of the charm and atmosphere that i remember from years ago .still ive got my memories of how it used to be.
I know what you mean, it used to be edgier until about 2007-8 I think when they started putting cameras everywhere around the red light etc, and chased the blatant dealers & clientele away, people think it's edgy and full of dealers now but back then they were standing on the bridge near the Grasshopper in broad daylight shouting ''COCAINE! ECSTASY!'' like it was a market selling fish and cheese, with guys posted on corners as lookouts (especially down to Beursstraat copshop) to whistle a code if scowtoe (police) were on the way (showing off my Surinamese language skills there lol). It's definitely lost it's mojo in the centre and unlike before, the tourists are cocky and not slightly in awe and a bit scared like they were earlier, they now make up more than 90% of the people you see in the centre, to such an extent that nowadays most Amsterdammers avoid the red light and the centre of Amsterdam like it's the plague.
@@simonh6371 well at least we were lucky enough to have seen how it used to be, we still have our memories of the place s, so its not all bad .i would still go again ,but just for the culture and not indulge in anything naughty,
knudge knudge wink wink ha ha lol !!!
Overlooked by tourists who head to Amsterdam, Rotterdam is an ultra-modern metropolis that is well worth checking out.
I've known a few Dutch people over the years and none of them think Amsterdam is the best city in the country. They all prefer the likes of Rotterdam, Utrecht, or small quaint villages in the middle of nowhere.
I've also found the French have the exact (if not worse) complaints about France that the British do about London. Seems to be a very common thing for locals to think their capital is crap... and lots of people don't realise Amsterdam is only the capital for constitutional reasons and the government isn't based there.
I'd hate to be sat facing a stranger for 3.5hrs. That seating configuration is the one thing that puts me off train travel.
Great video!!
any idea why they dont use a plane config
In this class there *should* be a number of 'solo' seats you can reserve. I am sure there must be some on the Siemens trainsets (these run to Amsterdam) ... they certainly exist on the older Alstom trainsets (several of which remain in service).
In standard premier and business there are solo seats available during booking, and if you’re traveling with other people it’s more enjoyable to talk if you’re not sitting next to eachother
@@maiden5427 Yes, trains are difficult to turn around and can travel in both directions. With this setup half of the passengers will always face in the direction of travel, rather than everyone facing backwards sometimes.
Personally, I hate the aircraft style seats as I find them cramped and claustrophobic. On these seats, you can always hide behind a book / paper / laptop / phone or look out of the window if you're not feeling sociable..
Always nice to see something different and am looking to do this trip myself sometime soon. This video has really helped me make up my mind to do so 😊
Getting off in Rotterdam means you can change to anywhere else other than Amsterdam.
its also a great city very modern and efficient its one of the very few cities in Europe that feel American. Cant wait to go back.
Why would you go to Europe and want a place to feel like America. Thats point of going to Europe - to experience Europe. Not America.
@@julianmackenzie6378 oh trust me. Its not American American.
@@julianmackenzie6378 because Rotterdam rules
@@julianmackenzie6378 haha
Loving all of these train videos. Wheres Geoff Marshall when you need him?
Eurostar looks great btw. Id love to travel on that. Its funny to think about how fast it goes compared to the little sprinter I usually get on to work.
welcome in Amsterdam :) We love to have you and everybody else. Something different then flying. I prefer flying, however, I will try the Eurostar soon!
By the way, I could not fine the links to the other 2 youtubers.
"On the train you retain a 4G signal the whole way."
Until you enter Germany :D
It doesn't enter Germany at all
From Germany here. And I wouldn't be too surprised if it was not a joke. Actually our digital infrastructure is rather a joke... Sigh.
@@slayncn so much for German efficency!
Briilant the world needs to get closer -though not travelled on the eurostar -looks cool!!
I took the Eurostar from London to Paris the same year you did this video and my seat mate was a woman who fought with someone on her phone and then cried the entire way to Paris. YAY!
Rotterdam is the connection hub for trains to the east and south of the Netherlands.
It's also a major industrial and business center. The simple fact that rotterdam's port is the biggest in Europe should give it away.
Also a stones throw from Den Haag the political capital of the Netherlands
"Den Haag"? Are you writing your post in Dutch? It's called "The Hague" in English.
In Australia the same distance on rail takes 11 hours
😅 It can feel like it takes 11 hours to get from Kent to North London using the M25 sometimes.
poor XPT
Amtrak would take 9-12 hours for the same distance in the US
Actually London Amsterdam is 581km, whereas Sydney to Melbourne is around 950km rail distance. So it’s not a fair comparison. London Berlin is a similar distance and it takes about 9.5 hours with changes.
canusdominici
There is a thing called speed
Distance doesn’t matter if one is fast and the other is slow
I remember my first trip on Eurostar. Just last year almost literally. I loved the boarding process and the seating and service. London to Paris. And I am an American
I actually planning on travelling around Europe since I'm from Norway it's easier for me
@@hood_avatar380 of course, your country didn't suffer brexit.
@@rumeunner3245 How is brexit relevant? Norway isn't even the EU in the first place tf? Travelling Europe as a Norweigan would be easier than it would be for an American which they're replying to.
@@rumeunner3245 Exiled Viking
1 month ago
@hood_avatar of course, your country didn't suffer brexit............. of course your country didnt democratically vote in a referendum ..... there you go, fixed it for you :)
I can't wait for my trip to London, Belgium, and Germany on EuroStar! I went on Eurostar about 4 years ago. Such a wonderful trip. We did the Disneyland Paris trip then. Staying at St. Pancras again. They have a wonderful concierge service that will take your bads to the train! Europe has the most amazing trains!
Really good information Noel I'll be taking this service in the future to visit my daughter and son in law in the Hague as I am not good flying and this looks a more relaxed journey
I’ll be taking Eurostar from Brussels to London in just under two weeks so this was helpful!
Did you have a good time?
Looks really nice, took the car transporter train when i was a child a few years after the tunnel opened, was amazed that we were going under the sea in a train! Great video!
Have to say the older I get the more I enjoy rail travel than being crammed into cattle class on an A320 etc. We have taken the London to Marseille Eurostar (from Ashford to Avignon) in Standard Premier. It's great, except for the hour stopover for security and passport check in Lille on the return journey.
Agreed Rail is always better than cattle class 🙃. I have reviews of all the classes and some rail travel on my channel
I hate flying for various reasons. When travelling within the UK or to places like Amsterdam I prefer to go by rail.
Hi Noel, you should have gone off at Rotterdam and take the train to Schiphol Airport from there: it is faster (and maybe even cheaper). The connecting train leaves just a couple of minutes after the Eurostar from the same platform and it runs every 15 minutes (except for Sunday I think).
The reason Eurostar doesn't call at Schiphol Airport is because there is no space for a special platform which can be locked off and where passengers are only allowed access after going through customs. Amsterdam (platform 15) and Rotterdam (platform 1) do have such facilities.
Wonderful vid as always! Eurostar is just so emblematic of what makes modern Europe great!
amstevenson Spoken by someone who clearly does not have to live with the consequences of open borders. My street in London is now home to multiple HMO's full of Polish men who drink and fight all nigh then seemingly spend the day flytipping anything they can lay their hands on. The family butcher became a polish supermarket and the one decent pub became a sports bar showing foreign channels and providing space for impromptu punch ups. The local school is devoid of white British children and one by one neighbours are selling and moving to the country. Hope I never get ill because it's now impossible to see a doctor given the population boom- ten to each house in some cases. I work with a lovely Romanian guy, who proudly tells me how much he sends back to his Romanian family each month and how he has been able to buy land over there by spending nothing in the UK. His elderly mother moved over to be with him and syphon thousands off the NHS. Yeah, modern Europe is great, if you're a formerly impoverished Eastern European.
@@spencerwilton5831 I invite you to travel to Nova Gorica in Slovenia or Gorizia in Italy (it's the same town, just with a border running through it). Before the open borders you literally couldn't cross the market square in town (a strange thing to know if you're standing there). Nowadays the fact that both sides of the market are in different countries is invisible to people who don't know it. There are more borders like this that people cross regularly without realising it wasn't once this easy. Nowadays Europe has loads of highways there are still customs offices you can drive by in about 5 seconds instead of the sometimes hour long queues that were there once. Furthermore closed borders does not necessarily stop immigration. You don't "have to live with the consequences of open borders", you're just racist.
Spencer Wilton all entirely down to poor government policy and the lack of any sort of strategic plan, not freedom of movement in of itself. Brexiteers should always have held the UK government to account over this first before going for the zero sum game of leaving the EU, in doing so they’ve excused the government and allowed their inaction to continue.
Great video as always, I've just posted up my video on the Euro Tunnel. Which for anyone who doesnt know is the Car transporter train that takes you from Folkestone UK to Claias France. I also ofter travel using Virgin trains and Eurotunnel. Keep up the great work Noel
Respect from Ghana!
I love Paul Lucas' channel, I found yours through the recommended videos. Started with the 4 cheapest flights mystery challenge and have been loving the rest!
You should do London St. Pancras - Marseille St. Charles, 7 hours in the E300 hehe
Noel, I love your vids and am catching up on the rail playlist now. Though I can't help but point out at 4:42, your fly is undone. Keep up with the vids. It's my little escape while I'm stuck in lockdowns in Sydney :(
Lmao
Rotterdam = Dutch business hub.
Eurostar = business travellers!
Your videos are simply amazing.
Keep up the good job.
We seem to forget that these countries are out neighbor's and friends.
Well firstly we British have never forgotten that, and secondly judging by your spelling ''neighbor's'' they aren't your neighbours as you are American!
@@simonh6371 I'm sorry that my smartphone defaults to the American spelling. I'm not American.
@@tomwilson5108 Really, with a genitive apostrophe too? I don't buy it. If it was ''neighbors'' without an apostrophe maybe. I believe that you aren't American, I just think you don't know spelling or grammar.
@@simonh6371 Jesus christ I made a spelling mistake. And you have never?
@@tomwilson5108 So which was it now, spelling mistake or American predictive text???
A real pity that the proposed regional hubs for Eurostar didn't take shape, I took a train from Glasgow Central in September and finding a through ticket via Eurostar was impossible. It would include your Virgin train ticket to London but and the pricing didn't reflect what it could cost separately and most annoyingly many trains you can take are not available. For example, it shows no trains available on Sunday but I, of course, did get a train to London and onwards to Glasgow by booking separately. I wrote afterwards to my local MSP who secured a response from Eurostar which basically tried to explain the omission of some tickets but noted no plans to improve the availability and reach into Scotland.
Hello Noel good video as usual and yes it’s a wonderful piece of civil engineering that is well constructed with safety security comfort high skilled precision workmanship hence great efficiency and that’s what I’m talking about the channel tunnel and very much likewise the trains especially that they’re updating the rolling stock at given times and that’s the great reason that we’re now well connected to the European mainland and as it’s been running for twenty five years it seems that the people of today mainly the youngsters tend to take it for granted but it’s amazing now that these days not only are we doing paris Brussels but we are now doing Amsterdam and I did hear that we could do cologne and hopefully other cities in various countries across Europe now for me as impressed as I am about this railway phenomenon I have not travelled on it though I hope to do so in the not to distant future so that’s it for now so until then take care and cheerio
Brilliant video Noel 👍 good to see the x2 Paul’s 😎 I watch their channels too. In comparison I travel from Leeds to Edinburgh each week which takes the same 3.5hrs 🤬 train travel in this country sucks!
It only "sucks" because when a new HS line is planned so many people object. Just look how long it took to construct HS1.
Yes Noel! Good trip report as always 😃. Welcome to the most beautiful city in Europe! XXX
Noel - Glad you reported on this Eurostar service and I noted you took the new (third) daily service. I feel the main advantage of standard premier is its use of first class seating. Business premier, which uses the same seating, is simply too expensive. If you found the Siemens trains to be more spacious (than the older Alsotom sets) it's because they are built for the mainland European gauge. It means that, unlike the Alstom sets which can run on most UK mainlines, the Siemens trains are restricted to HS2. I noticed that as you arrived into Brussels Midi you could see one of the ex-Alstom Eurostar sets (green and white livery) which is on loan to IZY (Thalys' budget Paris-Brussels service). Thanks for a most interesting report.
It's just like the Acela Express Boston to NYC to DC. I love the ride! 2197 from Boston to DC. I love the ride!
infinitely preferable to flying and better for the environment too!
MR Thank you so much 😊 I am going to Amsterdam in May 22/5/20 and I was looking at Eurostar. it’s great 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👨🏽🦱🏆🏆🥇🥇🌹🍺🌹🍺🌹🍺🌹🍺🌹🍺🌹🍺 thanks again looking forward to your next trip 👍👍
Hi Paul
A great video and a bonus to see you with the two Paul's who I follow like yourself.
I would to try the Eurostars and you have given a real insight into what Eurostars delivers.
I look forward to seeing your next video.
Kind regards
DS
When you where going through Brussels the green izzy train on the platform next to yours is actually a converted old eurostar
I would rather do the train than fly - much more relaxing! Thanks Noel
Its much more dangerous to be stuck in the middle of the channel tunnel than gliding over the channel in an emergency
Great video Noel! Eurostar is a nice and relaxing way to travel between London & Amsterdam. I tried it out last year as well. The food all looks perfectly fine! :)
Regards,
Brendan
The reason for the eurostar not stopping at Schiphol is that there isnt enough room for security checkpoints on the train station. The thalys does stop there however, (since it doesn't require you to go through security, compared to the eurostar service).
when the Pauls came on I was like "HEY THATS PAUL ..AND THATS PAUL!! " I watch their videos too. how did the world not blow up when the 3 of you got in the same room?
Wow..awsome bullet train..👍🥂 thank you..👌
Thanks for the video! I live in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil!
It's marginally more convenient than a flight. Flight is 1 hr, but you'd spend some time and money going to/from the airport. Eurostar is somewhat more expensive (than non-budget airlines, it's much more expensive than budget airlines) and takes 3 hrs, but it takes you downtown to downtown + you have internet the whole time. So... for a short distance like that, train barely wins. But for anything over 400 miles, flying makes a lot more sense.
@3:43 the chap over your right shoulder has an Island with dinosaurs roaming 👍
Enjoyed the video Noel, checking out using this for my next Amsterdam trip and I hear that a direct return service is due.
Yes they are starting soon I believe.
Yep. They expect to start the direct Amsterdam-London service by the end of April. Meanwhile the immigration/customs facilities in Amsterdam will be tested on select days by Dutch railway employees which will include a direct Amsterdam-London train ride and back the same day. I will be one of those test dummies in a couple of weeks. It’s gonna be a fun day trip! :)
"Amsterdam in Europe" - exactly what continent do you think the UK is on? 😂
He's a remoaner!
He said south when Amsterdam is North of london
Gregor Davies it goes south first through the English Channel , so he is technically right.
The UK is not mainland Europe , it’s and island you spastic. Europe is mainly connected by land with the exception of Malta , Cyprus and the United Kingdom , and Ireland.
@@Julius-77777 wow your a nice person! Europe is a continent.
In October the reverse will be possible too: direct connection from Amsterdam to London with all security/luggage checks/passports checks in Amsterdam Central Station!
The headrests on the train looked amazingly plush
I travelled in Standard Premier to Amsterdam during July of last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm glad you enjoyed it too. Although I plan to be in Amsterdam during the beginning of May next year for Twitchcon but I think I'll just take the flight from Birmingham this time, ha ha!
Another fantastic video Noel. Nice to see you meeting the two Paul’s too at the start
I almost forget the train can run that fast since watching your Amtrak video...until now
Last time I travelled to London I really considered taking the Eurostar, as I would love to
check out this unique route.
But these prices are crazy expensive, so I ended up flying with Easyjet, for a
tenth of the train ticket price.
MrMoccachinoo depends how far in advance you book. Some tickets £30-40 each way. I travel once a year to Brussels and I usually pay £35 I think.
so I ended up flying with Easyjet, for a
tenth of the train ticket price. how long did you spend at the airport, going through customs, passports, security? then crammed in cattle class with the screaming hordes. then you still have to get from schipol to amsterdam. or, get on a train, put your feet up, and watch the countryside roll past. i know which i prefer. each to his own :)
@@richard6440 Good point, but you missed that not anybody lives at Shiphol.
I would have to get from Germany by Train to an Eurostar Terminal and change there.
So flying was way shorter.
@@MrMoccachinoo as i said , various ways to travel, by time and cost, each to his own :)
I love Eurostar.
Hi Noel, the Eurostar that I took on 22nd June 2019 between London and Brussels Midl, did touch 319 kmph or around 199/200 mph after it crossed to France, but I remember it travelling at 199/200 kmph or around 124/125 mph within England till (probably) Dover and its speed does increase even when it is under the Chunnel, I think it is allowed to cross or touch 320 kmph only during its run within France and also probably in Belgium and the Netherlands. I thought you mentioned that Eurostar does 186 mph in England (too!), which I think is not the case. Later, on 25th June I came back by flight from Zurich to London and the next day, I took the Virgin from London (Euston-??) to Liverpool (the station near Albert Docks, yes, it's the) Lime St. railway station, to visit Anfield and buy LFC merchandise and came back the same day. Those Virgins did 199/200 kmph, which I reckon is the max. speed at which fast Inter-city/country trains are allowed to travel in England, including the Eurostar and SNCFs. Am I right?
Interesting info thank you
7:30 Here he passes Antwerpen-Centraal, the most beautiful train station in the world. Btw, Antwerp is a fantastic city! Too bad Eurostar doesn't stop here (yet).
Going to Amsterdam in December I can't wait 😊
Rotterdam central station is so pretty now. Rotterdam is a stop for many a business traveler.
i travel often in my home country the netherlands myself! i pay for a subscription for NS. to travel unlimited with the train in the weekends around the netherlands for 35 euros per month. pretty amazing! definitely for exploring and photographing new places! anyways nice video mate. keep it up!
Public transport is only acceptable in the west of the Netherlands. For the rest you really need a car.
@@luxembourger i live in the south and still fine. Walking is an option too ;)
Good video. 🙂 I now live in Rotterdam and frequently use the service back and forth to the UK. A great service in Standard Premier and very convenient when not having to change in gloomy Brussels.
Wow nice vlog I love trains Eurostar is good service
It is a beautiful train!
I'm doing this trip next week, having travelled to Amsterdam both by plane AND the stena line, I'll now be interested to see how,as a disabled passenger
( wheelchair) much it differs from my previous modes of transport.
Because I'm in a wheelchair,
I've been upgraded from standard class to standard Premium as that's aparently where the wheelchair spaces are located. TO be 100% honest, I dislike long journeys, as i find them
tiring and stressful,but from what I've seen SO far,this looks about the least troublesome way to go home.
( Amsterdam being my place of birth and where I lived for years before coming to the UK.
I'm not sure I would class the channel tunnel as crossing the North Sea as you suggested @ 12:21& 13:14.Either the Strait of Dover or the English Channel
Wow that was quite helpful. Due to my visual impairment, I find airports such hard work nowadays (yup, mainly due to poor passenger assistance as you’ve touched upon in another video) - for short hard consider Eurostar if there is help at connections for onward travel
I did that trip once & it was great 👍
Noel, may I suggest you do the direct train from Zurich main station to Geneva on the ICN, along the Northern shores of lake Bienne and lake Neuchâtel? .... in first class, that is!
Love train travel when it's not too crowded.
4:44, your flies are undone !! 8-)
Liking the look of those double decker trains! 12:33
Great video as always Noel, you could try the ferry from my home city of Hull across to Amsterdam - sometimes it's very cheap too!
I've used them before in the Netherlands. Pretty good ride. Shame our trains in the UK are a bit sh*t but thats what you get after decades of under-investment.
@@mark-nm4tc The problem is that the UK was really the OG in railways. As a result our infrastructure is hopelessly out of date and our system can't handle double decker trains, because we have the wrong rails and the tunnels aren't tall or wide enough.
On the continent most of their infrastructure got rekt during the war and there was a greater need to rebuild afterwards. But the whole Dutch cycling thing is very new - even in the 1970s the Dutch had American attitudes to car ownership, the traffic was absolutely desperate and they were pulling down beautiful old buildings to run motorways just like we see in Glasgow and Birmingham.
But they changed course. We didn't.
1:41 - Eve is rushing to catch Villanelle! 🤣
08:00 I think that many people got off the train in Rotterdam because it's connects much better with the rest of Netherlands in comparison with Amsterdam Centraal. Travelers towards The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Groningen or even Schiphol Airport would normaly transfer here. It would be very beneficial for the Eurostar to sopt at Schiphol Airport or Amsterdam Zuid (South) for connectivity reasons. Unfortunatley that won't happen because their is not enough space to build a Eurostar terminal for border control at those stations
It's not just a question of space ... it's also the expense (both for the construction and the staffing costs). Also for commercial reasons E* wants to have the fastest possible London-Amsterdam timings to compete with air. Ever wondered why it runs non-stop London-Brussels (no stops are made elsewhere in the UK) ?
@@alexmcwhirter6602 Well to be fair and no offence if you are from Kent, but there aren't really any significant cities from London to the tunnel entrance so that would be just bizarre if it stopped anywhere else, even Ashford is just a medium sized nondescript town and not comparable to Lille, Brussels or Rotterdam in terms of size or importance. I think if it stopped at Schiphol then it would be inconsistent if it didn't go to Brussels Zaventem airport too (yes I know it's a tiny re-route) plus there is a strong case to be made for stopping at Antwerp too
Thanks. But one cannot compare BRU with AMS as the latter so many flights compared to the former. Eventually E* will make stops at Ebbsfleet/Ashford as the Amstedam service matures. The point I make is that these Kent stations are ideal for those customers who do not wish to travel to Central London for E*. Remember thete are air services to AMS from *six* London airports !
@@alexmcwhirter6602 True but people in other larger cities along the trajectory could then argue the same, what about people from Hazebroek or Roubaix who don't want to travel to Lille, or people from Kortrijk, Mechelen or Antwerpen who don't want to travel to Brussels, or people from Rosendaal, Dordrecht or Gouda who don't want to travel to Rotterdam? These stations are also ideal for millions of people in these cities and surrounding areas but if it were to stop at these as well as in Ebbsfleet/Ashford, it would no longer be a high speed link. Actually I thought that some Eurostars did stop at Ashford due to the station being called Ashford International...this is why the barracks where I trained in 1989 was demolished and the unit relocated to Chicksands ;)
@@simonh6371 Yes some E* services do stop at Ebbsfleet/Ashford ... in time when the Amsterdam service develops we will surely see one or two services stopping there too. Right now the e320 trains cannot call at Ashford for technical reasons ... one local paper says it's because of a "power spike."
Hahaha this is so cool you guys all met up! I watch all 3 of you 🙌🏻💪🏻
Only a little longer than the time it takes me to get from Stoke to Hull
Very good view
4:43 flying low...
Such a nice video 😊
Glad you liked it!!