Eurostar to launch direct trains to Germany and Switzerland with huge £1.7billion new fleet

The Sun

2 days ago

EUROSTAR has confirmed they will launch new direct routes from the UK to Germany and Switzerland.
Currently, the train operator only connects France, Belgium and Amsterdam from London.
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However, the train operator said they were launching a "new golden age of international sustainable travel" with a new £1.7billion fleet, with 50 new trains,
The trains would depart from London St Pancras to both Frankfurt and Geneva.
The London to Frankfurt route would take around five hours, while to Geneva it would be slightly longer at 5hr20.
It has not been decided what stops the services would make - such as Cologne for trains to or from Frankfurt - and whether passengers would be able to get on and off en route.
The new routes hope to launch from the "early 2030s".
Eurostar chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave told PA many passengers are prepared to take longer train journeys rather than flying as they "want to travel more sustainably".
She expects there would be strong demand from leisure and business travellers for direct services to Frankfurt and Geneva, which she described as "big financial hubs".
A number of hurdles must be overcome before services could launch, such as creating sufficient passenger space at those stations, installing new border checkpoints, and securing access to tracks.
Ms Cazenave acknowledged that opening new international train routes requires "time, investments, expertise, a huge amount of energy, and partnerships".
However, she said she has "no doubt" the new direct services will happen because of the "willingness" of Eurostar, passengers and governments.
The Sun reviews business class travel on the Eurostar
The UK and Switzerland signed a memorandum of understanding last month aimed at establishing direct train services between the countries.
Eurostar will operate the new trains alongside its 17 existing e320s, bringing its total fleet to 67 trains, a 30 per cent increase on today.
Its new fleet will also enable it to boost existing routes, such as increasing its daily return frequencies between London and Paris from 17 to 20.
Meanwhile, the company confirmed it will add a fourth daily return service between St Pancras and Amsterdam from September 9, and a fifth from mid-December.
It carried 19.5 million passengers last year, up 5 per cent from 18.6 million in 2023.
London-Paris was its strongest performing route in 2024, with 280,000 passengers.
That was followed by London-Brussels (250,000 passengers), Paris-Brussels (160,000 passengers) and Paris-the Netherlands (140,000 passengers).
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 number of other train companies have revealed plans to take on Eurostar.
Sir Richard Branson 's Virgin Group confirmed they were looking into launching international train routes.
Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world
Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences.
Davos to Geneva, Switzerland
"After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire
Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen
"Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey
London to Paris by Eurostar
"Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what's so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won't have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski
Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail
"From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton
Beijing to Ulaanbatar
"The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray
Italy 's state-owned railway company FS Italiane Group has also revealed plans for London to Paris trains.
And Gemini Trains, chaired by Labour peer Lord Berkeley, has also confirmed similar plans.
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