A train station that makes flying seem far less convenient

The station

Amsterdam Centraal, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The journey

Amsterdam to Paris Gare du Nord on Eurostar, 9352; the nearly 428-kilometre international trip takes just over three and a half hours.

The departure

I enter the terminal about an hour before my scheduled departure at 1.10pm and pre-purchase my seat on Eurail’s Rail Planner app using my Eurail Pass. The trip is covered by my seven-day pass, but I need to pay to reserve a seat. The station is in the heart of the old town next to the IJ River and port (it shouldn’t be confused with Amsterdam Zuid station, which is an extension of Centraal and located five kilometres inland). The 19th-century red-brick building is a fine example of gothic renaissance revival architecture, and its ornate facade was designed by Pierre Cuypers (1827-1921), the architect behind the city’s Rijksmuseum. With no information about Eurostar departures displayed, it’s not clear where to go once inside. I head to an information area nearby and a staff member tells me the train departs from platform 15A.

Safety + security

It’s not excessively busy, and security is minimal. I use the QR code on my phone to pass through the electronic ticket gates in the main hall, and just a few metres away is the elevator to platform 15. Unlike previous departures from London on the Eurostar, there’s no need to lift my 23-kilogram bag onto a hip-high security conveyor belt because I’m travelling within the European Union.

Food + drink

The greasy kebabs at The Doner Company look tempting after a late night, but I wander past this and into Dutch convenience store Albert Heijn To-Go which is train-station retail heaven. There’s a fridge full of Japanese-style sandos, a Dutch bread section, freshly cut fruit and vegie sticks, and even fresh sushi and maki rolls. You’ll find more hangover cures at Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts and sandwiches at Kiosk.

Retail therapy

While not exactly riveting, you can buy edible souvenirs at Coco & Sebas and artisanal cheese at Henri Willig. If you have more time on your hands, browse chain stores such as Spanish fashion retailer Mango and soap store Lush.

Passing time

Something that most European train stations seem to lack is ample seating once inside the terminals, and this station is no exception. There are a couple of bookstores to peruse, a branch of drugstore chain Etos and a Relay outlet, but I head to the platform early to ease any anxiety about missing my train.

Boarding

The Eurostar train bound for Paris arrives on platform 15A, and my carriage is located all the way to the left-hand side of the platform. I make my way there with my luggage and despite it being busy, it’s not overcrowded. Once on the train and well into the journey, I’m reprimanded by the French train managers for not adding the travel day to my Rail Pass on the Rail Planner app, despite having a QR code proving I have paid for a ticket. They stand at my seat until I figure out how to do it.

The verdict

This station feels intuitive, easy to navigate and the locals are helpful. Just make sure you have your online tickets in order. Planes have revolutionised modern travel, but this experience is so efficient and stress-free that it almost makes flying seem archaic.

Our rating out of five

★★★★

The writer travelled with the assistance of Eurail. See eurail.com