Eurostar has announced plans to introduce direct train services from London St Pancras to Frankfurt and Geneva, marking the first time the UK will have direct rail links with Germany and Switzerland. The services are expected to begin in the early 2030s, with journey times of approximately five hours to Frankfurt and five hours and 20 minutes to Geneva.
The rail operator will invest around £1.7 billion (€2 billion) in a fleet of up to 50 new state-of-the-art trains, increasing its total fleet by 30% from the current 17 e320s to 67. The new trains will also boost capacity on existing routes, including increasing daily round trips from London to Paris from 17 to 20.
Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar's chief executive, said there is growing demand for longer train journeys as people seek more sustainable travel options. She described Frankfurt and Geneva as 'big financial hubs' expected to attract both leisure and business travellers. Cazenave added: 'A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here.'
Details such as potential intermediate stops, including Cologne on the Frankfurt route, and whether passengers can board or alight mid-journey, are still under discussion. Challenges before launch include expanding station capacities, establishing new border controls, and securing track access.
Last month, the UK and Switzerland signed a memorandum of understanding to kick-start direct train services between the two countries. Eurostar carried 19.5 million passengers in 2024, a 5% increase from 18.6 million in 2023, with the London-Paris route being its most popular.
