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From Canterbury to Amsterdam

Posted by on

On May 1 my wife and I plan to make a trek from Canterbury to Amsterdam. Our plan is to drive our rental car from Canterbury to Folkestone, drive the car onto the Eurotunnel train, drop off the rental in Calais (we originally picked it up in France), then take a train from Calais-Frethun to Amsterdam. It will be a busy morning as we will hit the road from Canterbury at 6:00, depart through the Eurotunnel at 7:20, drop off the rental and depart on the train to Amsterdam at 10:59 (with transfers at Brussels and Rotterdam).

We're early risers and on paper this looks like something we can do. My question is, can we rely on the trains to leave on time? We plan to arrive at Folkestone 35 minutes ahead of time and at Calais-Frethun 45 minutes ahead of time. Is that enough? One other question: the train schedule to allows only 6 minutes for the transfer in Rotterdam to the Amsterdam train. Has anyone gone this route and found that 6 minutes is sufficient?

Thanks!

Posted by
8889 posts

Yes, you can rely on the trains being on time. 6 minutes between trains should not be an issue, that is normal. If the first train is late and you miss the connection (unlikely), you gte a free transfer to the next train, which will be 30 or 60 minutes later.
Plan B, drop off the car at Lille, more trains and more options.
Be aware that Monday 1st May is a public holiday in the UK, France and most other European countries.

Posted by
4684 posts

This sounds as if it might be an expensive way of doing it due to the cost of the Eurotunnel shuttle train and potential punitive extra fees for dropping a car hired in the UK in France. Look into both, and check the times of Eurostar trains to Brussels from Ashford or Ebbsfleet, which are relatively close to Canterbury and should have hire premises nearby.

Posted by
34143 posts

I have a few concerns, as somebody who often crosses that stretch of water, by Eurostar and by Eurotunnel.

This 10:59 train. What kind of train is it? I don't see any at that time of day to Brussels from Calais. Neither Eurostar nor TER nor TGV. What date? I know that you will be in Paris on Bastille Day or thereabouts, but not the day for this trip.
EDIT: I now see the May 1. May Day on trains can be courageous, in all the countries you will be in that day. Eurostar can be an expensive way of travel for just point to point on the Continent.

Also, Calais Frethun is a pit. Lille can be much easier. Are you absolutely positive that the car return place will be open that day at the time you need them? Is it adjacent to the station? I repeat - Calais Frethun is a dump.

Also, how are you getting the car to England? The same way? Have you looked carefully into all the hurdles?

What originally caught my eye was getting to the Folkestone terminal from Canterbury with 5 minutes to spare. More tight than I would want. They shut the queue 30 minutes out and the ticket spitter won't give you the letter hanger you want if you are late. Depending on your ticket the consequences can be harsh or just severe. Unless you are selling your first born child and going Flex?

You'll be fine in Rotterdam.

Posted by
1717 posts

Hello wpersons. Is driving a car in England important to you ? You could ride in Railway trains in England. For the travel from Canterbury to Amsterdam, I think it would be easier to ride in the Express train from Canterbury to
London, and fly from an airport of London to the airport of Amsterdam.

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