Eurostar has announced a new direct train between the UK and Belgium, giving British travellers an easier way to reach one of Europe’s city break destinations.From December 14, passengers will be able to travel directly from London St Pancras International to Antwerp-Centraal, with the new stop added to Eurostar’s existing London-Amsterdam service.Up to four trains a day will call at Antwerp, alongside stops at Lille-Europe, Brussels-Midi, Rotterdam-Centraal and Amsterdam-Centraal, This offers travellers another direct route into mainland Europe, but there is one limitation. The direct service will only operate from London to Antwerp.A new direct service will run between London and Antwerp | GETTYPassengers returning to the UK will still need to change trains at Brussels-Midi, where UK border control and security checks take place, before boarding a Eurostar service back to London.Eurostar said there are “no current plans” to introduce a return service because it “would require dedicated UK border and customs facilities at Antwerp-Centraal”.Instead, travellers can book a combined SNCB and Eurostar ticket through the operator, allowing them to connect via Brussels on a single booking.Eurostar said: “Adding Antwerp as a direct stop on our London-Amsterdam services will make journeys to the city quicker and more convenient, providing customers with a more comfortable city centre to city centre travel experience.”The announcement comes as Eurostar also prepares for increasingly extreme summer temperatures across Europe.Following recent heatwaves, including temperatures reaching a record 37.7°C in parts of the UK in June, the operator has confirmed its next generation of trains will be equipped to operate in temperatures of up to 55°C.Earlier this month, Eurostar upgraded its order with French manufacturer Alstom to ensure the new fleet is better prepared for future climate conditions.The improvements come as part of the operator’s wider investment in up to 50 new all-electric double-decker Celestia trains, first announced last year.The new route begins in December | EUROSTAREurostar said: “We’ve confirmed an order for 30 trains, with an option for a further 20, marking a significant step in our growth journey to 30 million annual passengers.”The new fleet is expected to offer greater capacity while helping improve reliability during periods of extreme heat, which have increasingly disrupted rail travel across Europe in recent summers.The addition of Antwerp as a direct destination also continues Eurostar’s expansion of its cross-Channel network, giving British travellers more options for city breaks without the need to fly.