New Horizons: Direct Train Services from UK to Germany and Beyond

Plans are underway to introduce new direct train routes from London to various destinations in Germany, Switzerland, and France as part of an initiative to increase passenger capacity at St Pancras station. The organization that oversees St Pancras, London St Pancras Highspeed, aims to boost current international train capacity from 1,800 to nearly 5,000 passengers per hour. Currently, Eurostar operates the main cross-Channel services to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, holding a monopoly in this sector.

In a collaborative effort, London St Pancras Highspeed has partnered with Getlink, the owner of Eurotunnel, to enhance rail connectivity between the UK and mainland Europe. New routes could potentially connect London directly to major cities like Bordeaux, Cologne, Frankfurt, Geneva, Marseille, and Zurich, all within a six-hour travel time, an attractive alternative to short-haul flights.

While no specific launch dates have been provided, Eurostar’s recent discontinuation of services to Disneyland Paris and the south of France opens the door for new competitors such as Virgin Group and Evolyn, who are preparing to introduce alternative cross-Channel services. A spokesperson from Virgin noted the existing potential for competition is ripe, which would ultimately benefit all travelers.

Robert Sinclair, the CEO of London St Pancras Highspeed, highlighted the increasing demand for international rail travel and expressed commitment to working with Getlink to incentivize both new and established operators to diversify routes and elevate Europe’s rail connectivity.