My low-stress low-carbon journey to Amsterdam

On October 10^th I travelled to St Pancras International with a much larger suitcase than I would ever have been allowed to keep with me on a flight. The Eurostar allows two reasonably large suitcases and one hand luggage item per person and (although I did not take advantage of this) you can even bring your own wine or beer! My ticket said that I would only need to get there one hour before my departure – a refreshing change from the 2 hours plus wait time at the airport.

The check in process was relatively smooth, and I was through to the departure lounge in less than 20 minutes. Although the waiting area was very busy initially, this decreased significantly as the train in front of mine boarded. My own boarding process was uneventful, and I ended up coincidentally sat next to a colleague from KCL who I had worked with two years ago and was also going to the same conference.

The train journey was very smooth – no “fasten seatbelt” signs, no cramped seats with no legroom, and definitely no on in front tilting their chair back! I had intended to spend the 4 hours working but, as the WiFi was patchy, I spent the time alternating between chatting with my colleague, reading, and looking at the scenery. I was as if the universe was telling me to relax before what would be a very hectic conference.

We arrived at Amsterdam Centraal exactly on time, and there I saw several other colleagues form KCL who, it turns out, had been in my carriage all along. Leaving the station was easy – no customs checks or waiting at carousels desperately praying my bag would appear. The station is right in the heart of Amsterdam, and I was immediately blown away by the beauty of the city. The station building itself was stunning – much prettier than most London stations! The public transport system in Amsterdam got me to my hotel relatively easily – although I have to say waiting 20 minutes for a bus that would surely have been every 5 minutes at home did make me grateful for the London public transport system.

The next four days were full of science, sightseeing and stroopwaffles. Many people from KCL as well as others I had collaborated attended this conference – several of whom had also take the Eurostar. A standout experience had to be seeing the canals at night – the lights made the place feel almost magical.

On the way home I only had to be at the station 50 minutes before my train, allowing me some last few hours of exploring. I had deliberately booked an evening Eurostar to make the most of my time in Amsterdam, and I was very grateful to get to spend more time there. The journey back was also uneventful – once again the security and customs process was very easy. The only downside was the one (very small café) that made sandwiches to order and was expected to service hundreds of people in roughly 30 minutes. I just about managed to get my dinner before we boarded. Tired, but happy, I spent most of the journey back reading and sleeping. We arrived back on time and said our farewells.

So, is taking the train worth it? In the case of Amsterdam the answer is a resounding yes! I am extremely grateful to the IGUANA fund for supporting my journey and for convincing me to give the train a try – I will definitely do so again.