Rotterdam Centraal #CrossChannelRail

This is the interesting one

Due to the Belgian rail strike I am delayed getting to Brussels, but will be at the #CrossChannelRail event at ALoft at 17:30

https://crossborderrail.trainsforeurope.eu/projects/crosschannelrail/crosschannelrail-2025-events/

Come along for a beer at the end of your work day and discuss this crazy project!

Right then, #CrossChannelRail provisional thoughts about Amsterdam and Rotterdam

I spent a couple of hours looking at all of this today, and was even able to get a behind the scenes look at the terminals, thanks to Eurostar

The setup is both amazingly clever, and absurd - because the requirements are that absurd

Amsterdam Centraal first

The new terminal - still only half finished - will have capacity for 600 passengers, and will be running in full from later this spring (once some platform works - that are resulting in a temporary suspension of Eurostar services) - are done

The terminal is bright, airy, well built, and makes an excellent impression. And all this is especially good, given it’s underground and there are no windows.

Some things feel really provisional still - especially the access to the lift to the platforms which leads past the rubbish bins for the shops in the station!

Also as check-in will be 90 mins before departure, that realistically means a train every 2 hours to London, max

Eurostar aims to run 5 trains a day later in the year, leaving 2 or 3 slots for others - were they to want them

Then to Rotterdam

Here the terminal - located in what was an office space on Platform 2 - has a capacity for 165 passengers

Passengers stay in the terminal until a minute or two before the train arrives

The platform is "sanitised" and then split into two - doors only open on the back half of the Eurostar, and that part of the platform is secured

This whole process needs a dozen security staff to check the platform, and make sure no one manages to access the platform in the 30 minutes before the train arrives, and until it departs

Yes it works, but it's hellish costly and labour intensive!

The *advantage* of this system is it allows the platform to be used by regular trains in between - and this model you could copy for stations in - say - Switzerland