London to Amsterdam: Flight vs Train
Eurostar to Amsterdam vs flying: which is faster, cheaper and greener? Full door-to-door comparison including carbon emissions, baggage costs and transfer times.
Carbon footprint
13x greener
Train: 8.4 kg CO₂ · Flight: 112 kg CO₂
Source: EcoPassenger / NS International published emissions data
True cost comparison
Train from £79
Flight from £45 base
+ £50–£105 on top of the base fare in extras
True flight cost: £95–£245
Door-to-Door Journey Time
By Train
3h 52m
London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal, direct Eurostar
By Plane
6h 00m
Includes 90 min check-in at Heathrow/Gatwick + 1h 15m flight + 60 min arrivals at AMS Schiphol + 20 min rail link into central Amsterdam
Carbon Emissions per Passenger
| Mode | kg CO₂ per passenger | Vs train |
|---|---|---|
| Train | 8.4 kg | Baseline |
| Flight | 112 kg | 13x greener more |
Flight includes radiative forcing. Train figure is per-passenger based on published traction energy data.
Full Cost Breakdown
Train (all-in)
£79–£185
No hidden fees. City-centre departure and arrival.
Flight (true cost)
£95–£245
- Base fare: £45–£140
- Checked baggage: £25–£50
- Airport transfers: £25–£55
- Airport parking: £15–£40 per day (if driving)
Verdict
Eurostar arrives city-centre to city-centre and is rarely more expensive once flight extras are totalled. Journey time is similar or faster door-to-door.