Eurostar, the train service that connects the Netherlands to London, will be stopped for six months starting in June next year. This is because there will be construction work happening in Amsterdam, which means that officials won’t be able to process passengers going to London until 2025. People traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will have to change trains in Brussels. However, if you’re traveling from London to the Netherlands, you can still go as usual.

The Dutch government, the local train company, and Eurostar tried to come to an agreement that would let the service continue during the construction in Amsterdam. But they couldn’t find a solution because there won’t be enough space in the station to process passengers going to London. These passengers have to go through more security and passport checks compared to people going to the Netherlands and nearby countries.

Eurostar didn’t explain clearly why the construction work in Amsterdam would affect passengers in Rotterdam. Right now, there are four trains that go between London and Amsterdam every day, with stops in Brussels and Rotterdam. The disruption is expected to last for six months, which is shorter than they first thought.

This is just the latest problem for Eurostar. They have already had to stop other services, like direct trains to Disneyland Paris and connections between London and Marseille via Lyon. The company has been dealing with checks at the border after Brexit and not having enough staff. Also, trains haven’t been stopping at two stations in Kent, Ashford and Ebbsfleet, since 2020. Eurostar has seen a big drop in the number of people traveling on its London to Paris route.

In summary, Eurostar won’t be running trains from the Netherlands to London for six months because of construction work in Amsterdam. Passengers going from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will have to change trains in Brussels. The problem is that there won’t be enough space in Amsterdam’s station to process passengers going to London, who have to go through more checks. Eurostar is still running trains from London to the Netherlands. This is just one of the many problems Eurostar has faced, including checks at the border after Brexit and not having enough staff.

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:
1. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to read the article and summarize the main points in a few sentences.
4. After a designated time, have each group share their summaries with the class.
5. Discuss any differences or similarities in the summaries and clarify any questions or misunderstandings.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions:
1. Write the following statement on the board: “Do you think the construction work in Amsterdam should have been planned better to avoid disruption to the Eurostar service?”
2. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
3. Instruct the students to discuss their opinions on the statement and come to a consensus within their group.
4. After a designated time, conduct a class poll by asking each group to share their opinion and the reasons behind it.
5. Facilitate a class discussion, allowing students to express their opinions and respond to each other respectfully.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions:
1. Prepare a list of key vocabulary words from the article (e.g. Eurostar, construction work, passengers, disruption, border checks).
2. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
3. Give each group a set of vocabulary words.
4. Instruct the groups to take turns selecting a word and drawing a picture to represent it without using any letters or numbers.
5. The other group members must guess the word based on the drawing.
6. After each round, discuss the meanings of the words and provide any necessary clarifications.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions:
1. Pose the following question to the class: “What challenges do you think Eurostar will face in the future?”
2. Give the students a few minutes to think individually about their answer.
3. Instruct the students to pair up and share their thoughts with their partner.
4. After a designated time, facilitate a class discussion by inviting pairs to share their ideas with the whole class.
5. Encourage students to listen and respond to each other’s ideas, building upon and expanding the discussion.

– Speed Summarizing
Instructions:
1. Divide the students into pairs or small groups.
2. Give each group a copy of the article.
3. Instruct the groups to take turns summarizing different sections of the article in just one minute.
4. After each round, have the listeners provide feedback on the accuracy and clarity of the summaries.
5. Encourage the speakers to improve their summarizing skills by incorporating feedback from their peers.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Why will Eurostar be stopped for six months starting in June next year?
2. What will passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London have to do during the construction work?
3. Why couldn’t Eurostar continue the service during the construction in Amsterdam?
4. How many trains currently go between London and Amsterdam every day?
5. How long is the disruption expected to last?
6. What are some of the other problems Eurostar has faced recently?
7. Which two stations in Kent have Eurostar trains not been stopping at since 2020?
8. What has happened to the number of people traveling on Eurostar’s London to Paris route?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

(1)______, the train service that connects the Netherlands to (2)______, will be stopped for six months starting in June next year. This is because there will be construction work happening in Amsterdam, which means that officials won’t be able to process passengers going to London until 2025. People traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will have to change trains in Brussels. However, if you’re traveling from London to the Netherlands, you can still go as usual.

The Dutch government, the local train (3)______, and Eurostar (4)______ to come to an agreement that would let the service continue during the construction in (5)______. But they couldn’t find a (6)______ because there won’t be (7)______ space in the station to (8)______ passengers going to London. These passengers have to go through more security and passport checks compared to people going to the Netherlands and nearby countries.

Eurostar didn’t explain clearly why the construction work in Amsterdam would affect passengers in Rotterdam. Right now, there are four trains that go between London and Amsterdam every day, with stops in Brussels and Rotterdam. The disruption is expected to last for six months, which is shorter than they first thought.

This is just the latest problem for Eurostar. They have already had to stop other services, like direct trains to Disneyland (9)______ and connections between London and Marseille via Lyon. The company has been dealing with (10)______ at the border after Brexit and not having enough (11)______. Also, trains haven’t been stopping at two stations in Kent, Ashford and Ebbsfleet, since 2020. Eurostar has seen a big drop in the number of (12)______ traveling on its London to Paris route.

In summary, Eurostar won’t be running (13)______ from the (14)______ to London for six months because of construction work in Amsterdam. Passengers going from Amsterdam and (15)______ to London will have to change trains in Brussels. The problem is that there won’t be enough space in Amsterdam’s (16)______ to process passengers going to London, who have to go through more checks. Eurostar is still running trains from London to the Netherlands. This is just one of the many problems Eurostar has faced, including checks at the border after Brexit and not having enough staff.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is Eurostar and what does it do?
2. How do you think people traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will feel about having to change trains in Brussels?
3. Have you ever experienced any disruptions or delays while traveling? How did it make you feel?
4. Do you think the construction work in Amsterdam could have been planned better to avoid stopping the Eurostar service?
5. How would you feel if you were a passenger who had to go through more security and passport checks compared to others?
6. Do you think it’s fair that Eurostar is still running trains from London to the Netherlands but not the other way around? Why or why not?
7. What other problems do you think Eurostar might face in the future?
8. How do you think the lack of staff at Eurostar affects the quality of their service?
9. Do you like traveling by train? Why or why not?
10. How do you think the disruptions and problems faced by Eurostar could impact their reputation and customer satisfaction?
11. What do you think could be done to improve the situation for Eurostar and its passengers?
12. How do you think the construction work in Amsterdam could affect tourism in the Netherlands?
13. Have you ever traveled on Eurostar or a similar train service? What was your experience like?
14. How do you think the disruptions caused by Brexit have affected Eurostar and its passengers?
15. Do you think the Dutch government, the local train company, and Eurostar could have done more to find a solution to continue the service during the construction work in Amsterdam? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. Eurostar
2. Netherlands
3. construction
4. Amsterdam
5. passengers
6. Rotterdam
7. checks
8. Brussels

Meanings:
(a) The process of building something
(b) People who travel on trains
(c) The city where passengers will have to change trains
(d) The city where the construction work is happening
(e) The country where Amsterdam is located
(f) The train service that connects the Netherlands to London
(g) The city where passengers will have to change trains
(h) The process of verifying and inspecting something
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why will Eurostar service between the Netherlands and London be stopped for six months?
(a) There won’t be enough trains available.
(b) There will be construction work in Amsterdam.
(c) The Dutch government doesn’t want the service to continue.
(d) Eurostar is facing financial problems.

2. What will passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London have to do during the six-month disruption?
(a) Change trains in Brussels.
(b) Take a direct train to London.
(c) Use a different mode of transportation.
(d) Wait for the construction work to finish.

3. Why couldn’t Eurostar continue the service during the construction work in Amsterdam?
(a) The trains are not functioning properly.
(b) The Dutch government doesn’t want Eurostar to operate.
(c) The construction work will take longer than expected.
(d) There won’t be enough space in the station to process passengers going to London.

4. How long is the disruption expected to last?
(a) One year.
(b) Six months.
(c) Two weeks.
(d) Indefinitely.

5. What other problems has Eurostar faced recently?
(a) Checks at the border after Brexit and staff shortages.
(b) Lack of demand for train travel.
(c) High ticket prices and delays.
(d) Maintenance issues with the trains.

6. Which train stations in Kent have not been served by Eurostar since 2020?
(a) Canterbury and Dover.
(b) Maidstone and Folkestone.
(c) Ashford and Ebbsfleet.
(d) Margate and Ramsgate.

7. What is the current situation for passengers traveling from London to the Netherlands?
(a) They have to change trains in Brussels.
(b) They have to take a different mode of transportation.
(c) They can only travel during certain months.
(d) They can still travel as usual.

8. How many trains currently run between London and Amsterdam every day?
(a) Two.
(b) Six.
(c) Four.
(d) Eight.

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Eurostar, the train service connecting the Netherlands to London, will be temporarily stopped for six months starting in June next year.
2. The reason for the suspension is not due to construction work happening in Amsterdam, which will prevent officials from processing passengers going to London until 2025.
3. Travelers from Amsterdam and Rotterdam heading to London will not have to change trains in Brussels during this period.
4. Efforts were made by the Dutch government, the local train company, and Eurostar to find a solution to continue the service during the construction, but the lack of space in the Amsterdam station made it impossible.
5. However, those traveling from London to the Netherlands can still do so without any disruptions.
6. The disruption is not expected to last for six months, which is shorter than initially anticipated.
7. Eurostar did provide a clear explanation as to why the construction work in Amsterdam would affect passengers in Rotterdam.
8. Passengers going to London require additional security and passport checks compared to those going to the Netherlands and nearby countries.
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 be stopping its train service between the Netherlands and London for six months?
2. What will passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London have to do during the construction work in Amsterdam?
3. Why couldn’t Eurostar and the Dutch government find a solution to continue the service during the construction?
4. How many trains currently run between London and Amsterdam every day?
5. What are some of the other problems that Eurostar has been facing recently?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Eurostar will be stopped for six months starting in June next year because of construction work happening in Amsterdam.
Answer: Eurostar will be stopped because of construction work happening in Amsterdam.

2. Passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will have to change trains in Brussels.
Answer: Passengers will have to change trains in Brussels.

3. Eurostar couldn’t continue the service during the construction in Amsterdam because there won’t be enough space in the station to process passengers going to London.
Answer: There won’t be enough space in the station to process passengers going to London.

4. Currently, there are four trains that go between London and Amsterdam every day.
Answer: There are four trains.

5. The disruption is expected to last for six months.
Answer: The disruption is expected to last for six months.

6. Some of the other problems Eurostar has faced recently include checks at the border after Brexit and not having enough staff.
Answer: Eurostar has faced checks at the border after Brexit and not having enough staff.

7. Eurostar trains have not been stopping at Ashford and Ebbsfleet stations in Kent since 2020.
Answer: Eurostar trains have not been stopping at Ashford and Ebbsfleet stations.

8. The number of people traveling on Eurostar’s London to Paris route has dropped significantly.
Answer: The number of people traveling on Eurostar’s London to Paris route has dropped significantly.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) Eurostar
(2) London
(3) company
(4) tried
(5) Amsterdam
(6) solution
(7) enough
(8) process
(9) Paris
(10) checks
(11) staff
(12) people
(13) trains
(14) Netherlands
(15) Rotterdam
(16) station
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. Eurostar
Answer: (f) The train service that connects the Netherlands to London

2. Netherlands
Answer: (e) The country where Amsterdam is located

3. construction
Answer: (a) The process of building something

4. Amsterdam
Answer: (d) The city where the construction work is happening

5. passengers
Answer: (b) People who travel on trains

6. Rotterdam
Answer: (c) The city where passengers will have to change trains

7. checks
Answer: (h) The process of verifying and inspecting something

8. Brussels
Answer: (c) The city where passengers will have to change trains
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why will Eurostar service between the Netherlands and London be stopped for six months?
Answer: (b) There will be construction work in Amsterdam.

2. What will passengers traveling from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London have to do during the six-month disruption?
Answer: (a) Change trains in Brussels.

3. Why couldn’t Eurostar continue the service during the construction work in Amsterdam?
Answer: (d) There won’t be enough space in the station to process passengers going to London.

4. How long is the disruption expected to last?
Answer: (b) Six months.

5. What other problems has Eurostar faced recently?
Answer: (a) Checks at the border after Brexit and staff shortages.

6. Which train stations in Kent have not been served by Eurostar since 2020?
Answer: (c) Ashford and Ebbsfleet.

7. What is the current situation for passengers traveling from London to the Netherlands?
Answer: (d) They can still travel as usual.

8. How many trains currently run between London and Amsterdam every day?
Answer: (c) Four.
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Eurostar, the train service connecting the Netherlands to London, will be temporarily stopped for six months starting in June next year. (Answer: True)
2. The reason for the suspension is not due to construction work happening in Amsterdam, which will prevent officials from processing passengers going to London until 2025. (Answer: False)
3. Travelers from Amsterdam and Rotterdam heading to London will not have to change trains in Brussels during this period. (Answer: False)
4. Efforts were made by the Dutch government, the local train company, and Eurostar to find a solution to continue the service during the construction, but the lack of space in the Amsterdam station made it impossible. (Answer: True)
5. However, those traveling from London to the Netherlands can still do so without any disruptions. (Answer: True)
6. The disruption is not expected to last for six months, which is shorter than initially anticipated. (Answer: False)
7. Eurostar did provide a clear explanation as to why the construction work in Amsterdam would affect passengers in Rotterdam. (Answer: False)
8. Passengers going to London require additional security and passport checks compared to those going to the Netherlands and nearby countries. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧