Eurostar has confirmed it will launch a direct train service from London St Pancras to Antwerp, Belgium, beginning December 14, 2026. The new route will offer up to four daily services, reducing travel time from the current three hours and 15 minutes to approximately two hours and 45 minutes.
Route Details and Schedule
The direct trains will extend existing London–Amsterdam services, stopping at Lille-Europe, Brussels-Midi, Rotterdam-Centraal, and Antwerpen-Centraal. Currently, passengers traveling from London to Antwerp must change trains in Brussels, taking a separate Belgian National Rail Company (SNCB) service. The new direct journey eliminates this transfer.
However, the direct service will operate only from London to Antwerp. Due to the absence of UK border and customs facilities at Antwerp Centraal, return journeys will require a combined SNCB and Eurostar ticket via Brussels-Midi.
Official Statement
Eurostar stated: 'Adding Antwerp as a direct stop on our London–Amsterdam services will make journeys to the city quicker and more convenient, providing customers with a more comfortable city centre to city centre travel experience.'
Context and Future Plans
This announcement follows a memorandum of understanding signed in June 2026, where Eurostar committed to exploring a direct London–Switzerland connection. Similar agreements were made in December 2025 for routes to Cologne and Frankfurt, though those are not expected until the 2030s. The Antwerp route is the first confirmed new direct service before the end of the year.
Impact on Travel
The new route saves more than 30 minutes compared to the current indirect journey. Antwerp, Belgium's second-largest city, is known for its port, diamond district, and cultural attractions. The direct service is expected to boost tourism and business travel between London and Antwerp.
