Eurostar has announced that its services from the Netherlands to London will be suspended for six months starting in June next year. This is due to renovation work taking place in Amsterdam, which will prevent officials from processing cross-Channel passengers until 2025. Passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will be required to change trains in Brussels. However, outbound travel from London to the Netherlands will continue as usual.
Negotiations between the Dutch government, the local railways operator, and Eurostar failed to reach an agreement that would allow services to continue during the renovation works at Amsterdam’s central station. The station will not have enough space to process London-bound passengers, who are subject to more extensive security and passport checks compared to passengers traveling to the Netherlands and neighboring countries.
Eurostar did not provide a clear explanation as to why the renovation works in Amsterdam would prevent passengers from boarding in Rotterdam. Currently, four trains operate daily between London and Amsterdam, with stops in Brussels and Rotterdam along the way. The disruption is expected to last for six months, which is shorter than initially anticipated.
This suspension of services is the latest challenge faced by Eurostar, which has already had to suspend other connections, such as direct services to Disneyland Paris and connections between London and Marseille via Lyon. The company has been grappling with post-Brexit border checks and staff shortages. Additionally, trains have not been stopping at two stations in Kent, Ashford and Ebbsfleet, since 2020. Eurostar has reported a significant decrease in passenger numbers on its London to Paris route.
In conclusion, Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London will be temporarily suspended for six months due to renovation works in Amsterdam. Passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will need to change trains in Brussels. The disruption is a result of the limited space available at Amsterdam’s central station to process London-bound passengers, who require more extensive security and passport checks. Eurostar continues to operate outbound travel from London to the Netherlands. This suspension is the latest in a series of challenges faced by Eurostar, including post-Brexit border checks and staff shortages.
Original news source: Eurostar Amsterdam-to-London services to be suspended for six months (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Assign one student in each pair as the “reporter” and the other as the “listener.” The reporter will read the article to the listener, who will then summarize the main points in their own words. Afterward, the pairs will switch roles and the listener becomes the reporter, summarizing the article to their partner.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will discuss their opinions on the temporary suspension of Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London. They should consider the impact on travelers, the reasons behind the suspension, and possible solutions. After the discussion, each group will present their opinions and findings to the class.
– Speed Summarizing
Instructions: Give each student a copy of the article. Set a timer for a short amount of time (e.g., 2 minutes) and instruct the students to read the article and write a summary of the main points. After the time is up, students will pair up and take turns sharing and comparing their summaries. Encourage them to discuss any differences or similarities they found.
– Keyword Taboo
Instructions: Write a list of keywords related to the article on the board. Divide the class into two teams. One student from each team will come to the front of the class and face their team while the teacher shows them a keyword from the list. The student must describe the keyword to their team without using the actual word. The team members must guess the keyword based on the description. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, students will discuss and make predictions about the impact of the temporary suspension of Eurostar services. They should consider the economic, social, and logistical effects on both travelers and Eurostar as a company. After the discussion, each pair will present their predictions to the class. Encourage them to support their predictions with reasons and evidence from the article.
Comprehension Questions:
1. Why will Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London be suspended for six months?
2. What will passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London need to do?
3. Why did negotiations between the Dutch government, the local railways operator, and Eurostar fail?
4. How many trains currently operate daily between London and Amsterdam?
5. How long is the disruption expected to last?
6. What are some of the other challenges that Eurostar has faced recently?
7. Why have trains not been stopping at two stations in Kent since 2020?
8. What has been the impact on passenger numbers on Eurostar’s London to Paris route?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
(1)______ has announced that its services from the Netherlands to London will be suspended for six months starting in June next year. This is due to renovation work taking place in Amsterdam, which will prevent officials from processing cross-Channel passengers until 2025. Passengers (2)______ from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will be required to change trains in Brussels. However, outbound travel from London to the Netherlands will continue as usual.
Negotiations between the Dutch government, the (3)______ railways operator, and Eurostar failed to (4)______ an agreement that would allow services to continue during the renovation works at Amsterdam’s central station. The station will not have (5)______ space to process London-bound passengers, who are subject to more extensive security and passport checks compared to passengers traveling to the Netherlands and neighboring countries.
Eurostar did not provide a (6)______ explanation as to why the renovation works in Amsterdam would prevent passengers from (7)______ in Rotterdam. Currently, four trains operate daily between London and Amsterdam, with stops in (8)______ and Rotterdam along the way. The disruption is expected to last for six months, which is shorter than initially anticipated.
This suspension of services is the latest challenge (9)______ by Eurostar, which has already had to suspend other connections, such as direct services to Disneyland Paris and connections between London and Marseille via Lyon. The (10)______ has been grappling with post-Brexit border checks and staff shortages. Additionally, (11)______ have not been (12)______ at two stations in Kent, Ashford and Ebbsfleet, since 2020. Eurostar has reported a significant decrease in passenger numbers on its London to Paris route.
In conclusion, Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London will be temporarily suspended for six months due to renovation works in (13)______. (14)______ (15)______ing from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will need to change trains in Brussels. The disruption is a result of the limited space available at Amsterdam’s central station to process London-bound passengers, who require more extensive security and passport checks. Eurostar continues to operate outbound travel from London to the Netherlands. This suspension is the latest in a (16)______ of challenges faced by Eurostar, including post-Brexit border checks and staff shortages.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is your opinion on the temporary suspension of Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London?
2. How do you think this suspension will impact travel between Amsterdam and London?
3. Do you think the renovation works in Amsterdam are necessary? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you were a passenger traveling from Amsterdam or Rotterdam to London and had to change trains in Brussels?
5. Do you think the disruption of Eurostar services will have a negative impact on tourism between the Netherlands and the UK? Why or why not?
6. What do you think Eurostar could have done differently to avoid this suspension of services?
7. How do you think Brexit has contributed to the challenges faced by Eurostar?
8. Have you ever traveled on Eurostar? If so, what was your experience like?
9. Do you think the post-Brexit border checks are necessary for passengers traveling between the UK and EU countries? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the staff shortages have affected the quality of service on Eurostar trains?
11. What other alternatives do you think passengers have for traveling between the Netherlands and the UK during the suspension of Eurostar services?
12. How important do you think it is for Eurostar to maintain direct services to Disneyland Paris and connections to Marseille via Lyon?
13. What impact do you think the decrease in passenger numbers on the London to Paris route will have on Eurostar’s operations?
14. Have you ever experienced any disruptions or challenges while traveling on Eurostar or any other train service? If so, what happened?
15. How do you think Eurostar can overcome the challenges it is currently facing and improve its services in the future?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. Eurostar
2. Netherlands
3. London
4. Amsterdam
5. renovation
6. passengers
7. Brussels
8. disruption
Meanings:
(a) Capital city of the United Kingdom
(b) People traveling on a train or plane
(c) Capital city of Belgium, where train change is required
(d) High-speed train service connecting Europe
(e) Capital city of the Netherlands
(f) Process of improving or repairing something
(g) Interruption or disturbance to normal operations
(h) Country in Western Europe
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. Why will Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London be suspended?
(a) Renovation works in Amsterdam
(b) Post-Brexit border checks
(c) Staff shortages
(d) Decrease in passenger numbers
2. Where will passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London need to change trains?
(a) Paris
(b) Brussels
(c) Lyon
(d) Berlin
3. Why will Amsterdam’s central station not have enough space to process London-bound passengers?
(a) Lack of staff
(b) Post-Brexit border checks
(c) Extensive security and passport checks
(d) Decrease in passenger numbers
4. How long is the disruption expected to last?
(a) One year
(b) Two years
(c) Indefinitely
(d) Six months
5. What other connections have Eurostar already had to suspend?
(a) Connections between London and Marseille via Lyon
(b) Services to Berlin
(c) Direct services to Disneyland Paris
(d) All of the above
6. Which two stations in Kent have trains not been stopping at since 2020?
(a) Brussels and Rotterdam
(b) Paris and Lyon
(c) Amsterdam and Rotterdam
(d) Ashford and Ebbsfleet
7. What has Eurostar reported a significant decrease in?
(a) Staff numbers
(b) Passenger numbers on its London to Paris route
(c) Revenue
(d) Train services
8. What are the challenges faced by Eurostar?
(a) Post-Brexit border checks
(b) Staff shortages
(c) Decrease in passenger numbers
(d) All of the above
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London will be suspended for six months starting in June next year.
2. The disruption is expected to last for six months, which is longer than initially anticipated.
3. Eurostar has faced other challenges, such as post-Brexit border checks, staff shortages, and suspensions of other connections.
4. Passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will not be required to change trains in Brussels.
5. Amsterdam’s central station will have enough space to process London-bound passengers.
6. Outbound travel from London to the Netherlands will not continue as usual.
7. The suspension is due to renovation work taking place in Amsterdam.
8. Negotiations between the Dutch government, the local railways operator, and Eurostar failed to reach an agreement to continue services during the renovation works.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. Why will Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London be suspended for six months?
2. What is the reason behind the need for renovation works in Amsterdam’s central station?
3. What will passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London have to do during the suspension of services?
4. How have post-Brexit border checks and staff shortages affected Eurostar?
5. What other connections has Eurostar had to suspend recently?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London will be suspended for six months due to renovation works taking place in Amsterdam.
2. Passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will need to change trains in Brussels.
3. Negotiations between the Dutch government, the local railways operator, and Eurostar failed because Amsterdam’s central station will not have enough space to process London-bound passengers, who require more extensive security and passport checks.
4. Currently, four trains operate daily between London and Amsterdam.
5. The disruption is expected to last for six months.
6. Some of the other challenges that Eurostar has faced recently include post-Brexit border checks and staff shortages.
7. Trains have not been stopping at two stations in Kent, Ashford and Ebbsfleet, since 2020.
8. Eurostar has reported a significant decrease in passenger numbers on its London to Paris route.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) Eurostar
(2) traveling
(3) local
(4) reach
(5) enough
(6) clear
(7) boarding
(8) Brussels
(9) faced
(10) company
(11) trains
(12) stopping
(13) Amsterdam
(14) Passengers
(15) travel
(16) series
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. Eurostar
Answer: (d) High-speed train service connecting Europe
2. Netherlands
Answer: (h) Country in Western Europe
3. London
Answer: (a) Capital city of the United Kingdom
4. Amsterdam
Answer: (e) Capital city of the Netherlands
5. renovation
Answer: (f) Process of improving or repairing something
6. passengers
Answer: (b) People traveling on a train or plane
7. Brussels
Answer: (c) Capital city of Belgium, where train change is required
8. disruption
Answer: (g) Interruption or disturbance to normal operations
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. Why will Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London be suspended?
Answer: (a) Renovation works in Amsterdam
2. Where will passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London need to change trains?
Answer: (b) Brussels
3. Why will Amsterdam’s central station not have enough space to process London-bound passengers?
Answer: (c) Extensive security and passport checks
4. How long is the disruption expected to last?
Answer: (d) Six months
5. What other connections have Eurostar already had to suspend?
Answer: (c) Direct services to Disneyland Paris
6. Which two stations in Kent have trains not been stopping at since 2020?
Answer: (d) Ashford and Ebbsfleet
7. What has Eurostar reported a significant decrease in?
Answer: (b) Passenger numbers on its London to Paris route
8. What are the challenges faced by Eurostar?
Answer: (a) Post-Brexit border checks
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Eurostar services from the Netherlands to London will be suspended for six months starting in June next year. (Answer: True)
2. The disruption is expected to last for six months, which is longer than initially anticipated. (Answer: False)
3. Eurostar has faced other challenges, such as post-Brexit border checks, staff shortages, and suspensions of other connections. (Answer: True)
4. Passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will not be required to change trains in Brussels. (Answer: False)
5. Amsterdam’s central station will have enough space to process London-bound passengers. (Answer: False)
6. Outbound travel from London to the Netherlands will not continue as usual. (Answer: False)
7. The suspension is due to renovation work taking place in Amsterdam. (Answer: True)
8. Negotiations between the Dutch government, the local railways operator, and Eurostar failed to reach an agreement to continue services during the renovation works. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧
