Eurostar will add a new Eurostar train London Antwerp service from 14 December, with direct journeys from London St Pancras to Antwerp-Centraal bookable now. The train will run up to four times a day on the London-Amsterdam service.
The change gives rail travellers a direct outward link between London and Antwerp without changing trains. Eurostar said the addition will make journeys to the city “quicker and more convenient, providing customers with a more comfortable city centre to city centre travel experience.”
London St Pancras to Antwerp-Centraal
The Antwerp stop is being added to an existing service rather than creating a separate route. That means the train will still call at Lille-Europe, Brussels-Midi, Rotterdam-Centraal and Amsterdam-Centraal, with Antwerp added on the outward leg from London.
For passengers, the practical change is simple: a direct booking will be available for travel from London St Pancras to Antwerp-Centraal from 14 December. Eurostar said customers can book the return journey as a combined SNCB and Eurostar ticket via Brussels-Midi.
Brussels-Midi return journey
The return trip does not mirror the new outward service. Eurostar said there are no current plans to introduce a direct return service from Antwerp to London, and said such a service would require dedicated UK border and customs facilities at Antwerp-Centraal.
UK border and security checks take place at Brussels-Midi, which is why the return leg still runs through that station. For travellers, that leaves the new Antwerp option useful for the outbound trip, but not yet a full two-way direct link.
Eurostar and Antwerp-Centraal
The Antwerp stop sits alongside Eurostar’s wider fleet plans. Last year, the company announced a €2bn investment in up to 50 new double-decker all-electric Celestia trains, and earlier this month it upgraded its order with Alstom to “be prepared for the future.”
Eurostar also said it has confirmed an order for 30 trains, with an option for a further 20, as part of a growth plan to 30 million annual passengers. For anyone booking the new service now, the main point is the same: direct from London on the way out, via Brussels-Midi on the way back.
