Eurostar to launch new UK trains direct to two of Europe's most iconic cities
Eurostar claimed a 'new golden age of international sustainable travel is here' as it announced proposals to run trains between London St Pancras and both Frankfurt and Geneva from the 'early 2030s'
Eurostar has announced major plans to link up the UK and two European countries with direct services for the first time.
From the "early 2030s" the train operator will run services to Germany and Switzerland, heralding what it calls "a new golden age of international sustainable travel". The rail operator announced ambitious plans to connect London St Pancras directly with Frankfurt and Geneva starting in the "early 2030s".
A fleet of up to 50 state-of-the-art trains, costing around two billion euros (£1.7 billion), will be deployed on these routes. Travellers could zip from London to Frankfurt in roughly five hours, and reach Geneva in about five hours and 20 minutes.
Details such as potential stops along the way, for instance, Cologne on the Frankfurt route, and whether passengers can board or alight mid-journey, are still under discussion. Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar's chief executive, told PA news agency that there's a growing appetite for longer train trips over flights as people "want to travel more sustainably".
'I tried the UK's new high-tech £200million trains with underfloor heating'
She anticipates a high demand for these direct connections to Frankfurt and Geneva, noting their status as "big financial hubs" and their appeal to both leisure and business travellers. However, several challenges lie ahead before the launch, including expanding station capacities, establishing new border controls, and securing track access.
Last month, the UK and Switzerland penned a memorandum of understanding to kick-start direct train services between the two nations. Eurostar is set to expand its fleet with the addition of new trains to its 17 e320s, bumping up its total to 67 trains – a 30% increase from today's numbers.
The bolstered fleet will also enhance current routes, including upping the daily round trips from London to Paris from 17 to 20. From September 9, Eurostar will introduce a fourth daily return service to Amsterdam from St Pancras, with plans for a fifth by mid-December.
Eurostar's network connects London with Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and the French Alps during ski season, as well as running routes within Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Last year saw the operator carry 19.5 million passengers, marking a 5% rise from 18.6 million in 2023.
The London-Paris line was Eurostar's top performer in 2024, carrying 280,000 passengers, followed by London-Brussels with 250,000, Paris-Brussels at 160,000, and Paris-the Netherlands with 140,000 travellers.
Ms Cazenave said: "We're seeing strong demand for train travel across Europe, with customers wanting to go further by rail than ever before and enjoy the unique experience we provide. Despite the challenging economic climate, Eurostar is growing and has bold ambitions for the future.
"Our new fleet will make new destinations for customers a reality – notably direct trains between London and Germany, and between London and Switzerland for the first time. A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here."
Various firms are crafting strategies to break Eurostar's exclusive hold on Channel Tunnel passenger services. Among them are Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, FS Italiane Group which runs Italy's railways, and Gemini Trains, with Labour peer Lord Berkeley at the helm.
Ownership of Eurostar predominantly lies with France's national rail company SNCF. Back in 2015, the UK government divested its Eurostar share, cashing £757 million in the sell-off to private investors.
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