In the long term, this could have major consequences for the competitive position of the Dutch railways and the number of passengers who choose the train over the plane.
The Dutch rail network is in dire straits. Recently, Eurostar director Gwendoline Cazenave issued a clear threat: if there is no clarity about the maintenance and capacity of the track, Eurostar threatens to cancel its connections from Amsterdam and Rotterdam. She published this message last week in a letter to the editor in Het Financieele Dagblad.
For many travellers this would mean a considerable blow, especially now that there is increasing attention for sustainable travel and the international train is an attractive alternative to the plane. Our editors therefore decided to put this to the test and examine the bottlenecks of international train traffic from the Netherlands.
Anyone travelling from Brabant and wanting to take an international train will soon be faced with a challenge. The most obvious option is to take the train to Amsterdam or Rotterdam, but that journey can take quite some time. However, for travellers wanting to depart from Eindhoven, a surprising alternative appears to be available: the Intercity-Express (ICE) of Deutsche Bahn, which departs from the German cities of Duisburg or Düsseldorf.
The travel time from Eindhoven to these cities is only about an hour and a quarter. This is considerably faster than the travel time to Amsterdam or Rotterdam, which is often more than an hour and a half. Furthermore, the ICE offers a direct connection to various destinations in Germany and beyond, making it a more attractive option for international travellers.
activities
However, travelling via the Netherlands is currently far from ideal. The ongoing work at Amsterdam Central Station is causing significant delays and inconveniences. In addition, there is currently also work between Amsterdam and Osnabrück, a crucial hub for international trains. As a result, there will be no direct trains between the Netherlands and Germany until Friday 11 October. The advice from the Dutch Railways is to travel via Deventer and take the express bus to Osnabrück from there. However, those looking for a fast and comfortable journey will probably not find this alternative attractive. This route can lead to significant delays, which is particularly problematic for business travellers.
Since November 2023, the situation on some parts of the high-speed line has deteriorated even further. On several routes, the speed of international trains has been reduced from 160 kilometers per hour to just eighty kilometers per hour. This causes even more delays and makes train travel less efficient than hoped. For travelers who want to travel quickly from the Netherlands to other European countries, it is therefore becoming increasingly tempting to look for alternatives.
alternative
For those who want to visit the French cities, departure from Lille offers an attractive alternative. This city is only a 2,5-hour drive from Eindhoven, and offers excellent connections with high-speed trains such as the TGV INOUI, Eurostar and Thalys. These trains reach speeds of over 300 kilometres per hour, allowing travellers to travel quickly and comfortably to cities such as Paris, Brussels or even London.
The TGV, a proud product of the French national railways (SNCF), came into service in 1981 and has since revolutionised European rail transport. What began with the line between Paris and Lyon has grown into a vast network of high-speed lines that quickly transport passengers throughout France and to neighbouring countries.
travel experience
The travel experience with these French and German high-speed trains contrasts sharply with the current situation on the Dutch railways. While France and Germany are investing heavily in the expansion and improvement of the high-speed network, the Netherlands seems to be lagging behind. The ongoing work, reduced speeds and poor connections make it increasingly difficult for travellers to use the international rail network.
It remains a challenge for international train passengers in the Netherlands. As long as there is no improvement in the rail infrastructure, many will have to look for alternatives such as the train from Germany or France. With the threat of Eurostar to withdraw from the Netherlands, this situation is only becoming more urgent. It is up to the Dutch government and the railway companies to take action quickly and ensure that the Netherlands remains connected to the European high-speed network.
