Train journey UK to Amsterdam

[crisp25]

Has anyone of you lot actually ever done this trip on a train? Leaving from London St. Pancras to Amsterdam Central and back? What is the experience as I know it shouldn't take more than approx.5-6hrs right? With one change in Brussels, I guess? How much time to allow for a change to be comfortable for a "first timer", not knowing the area too well? And lastly, one more question: what level of check to expect? Where and how frequent? Is there any sort of "border" that one would have to go through customs checking? You guys probably figure out what I'm trying to ask indirectly... any response and advice will be appreciated. Thanx

[bigs]

i think i see what your trying to ask..

but how do you justify to the customs guy why you've spent £200+ on a 6 hour train ticket when you could of done it for £50 on a 45 minute flight....?

just my .02

[crisp25]

i think i see what your trying to ask..

but how do you justify to the customs guy why you've spent £200+ on a 6 hour train ticket when you could of done it for £50 on a 45 minute flight....?

just my .02

I must say im not exactly with you on 200£ mark as the last time ive checked ticket prices for entire journey were about 70 quid, it's just a obvious time difference between both train and plain... Besides I do not think customs officer would ever be concerned about how much I spent on travel rather than in something else, but that's my opinion

[nehctik]

He has a fear of flying and so cannot fly

[Ash333]

You have security before passport control in St Pancras.

Brussels is within the Schengen, you just walk straight to your next train.

AFAIK possession of small amounts of herb is decriminalised in Belgium, but don;t take my word for it.

[Dave J]

Dont know about trains but my first ever trip to Amsterdam was several years ago by coach. There were no checks what so ever on the way over, except for passport checks in Dover or France.

Then no check untill the return trip in France where that was a basic bag scanner thing while the customs guy went and checked that there was not a single visable item left on the coach that should not have been there. But there was certainly some shuffling on the seats as I recall coming to a stop for the checks lol

Doubt the checks are really much different on the trains as it would use up to much time and delay the train to much. Guess it's a case of any real check done before you board the train and then thats it pretty much?.

[echc1]

there is another way too....the "dutchflyer"service which runs with stena ferries via harwich....the train both sides and ferry are included in the price....not the quickest way but if not in a hurry is a nice way to travel......the info can be got either thru train or stena ferries websites or type "dutchflyer" into your search engine..........a handy route if there are air traffic control issues or volcanoes causing chaos........2 ferries/day...early daytime crossing or overnight crossing

[Marco]

Dont know about trains but my first ever trip to Amsterdam was several years ago by coach. There were no checks what so ever on the way over, except for passport checks in Dover or France.

Then no check untill the return trip in France where that was a basic bag scanner thing while the customs guy went and checked that there was not a single visable item left on the coach that should not have been there. But there was certainly some shuffling on the seats as I recall coming to a stop for the checks lol

Doubt the checks are really much different on the trains as it would use up to much time and delay the train to much. Guess it's a case of any real check done before you board the train and then thats it pretty much?.

They walk through the French trains. ALl the time

Kids, don't smuggle drugs! Even if everyone on the board has done it successfully, you may not make it.

Although between Brussels and Amsterdam it is generally no big thing, but do it at your own risk.

[ravenfunk]

i allways travel to the dam by boat from newcastle it takes 15 hours but its a great trip....just make sure you take quality weed on board with you and you can get hammered on the way there....you carnt do that on a train plain or bus you can get a return cabin for about £100 wich can sleep up to 4 people......great value 23 trips so far and going back for christmas.

http://www.dfdsseaways.co.uk/

[beejun]

I donno if it's too late to reply but Ill do it anyway...

When you take the train from Amsterdam to Brussels you are safe 99 percent of the times, the 1 percent being cops gettin' in the train with a dog.

From Brussels to London it's another story, because UK is not part of the Shengen Agreement, wich means that they will check your passport and if they wish they can go through your bags.

In 10 years I've never been caught doing holland-UK by train, but I got stopped many many many times.... the"sir can you step on the side and follow us please" in London after I got off the train was so frequent I got used to it. And every time I had smokes in my underwear.

So do not worry

[Dave near London]

Old thread ....came back by train on Friday to Brussels , the police made a big show of getting the sniffing dog along the platform at AMS Central - said pooch took some interest in me , but I had zilch on me and wore non coffee shop clothes on. (probably smelt our cat !)