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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
37 minutes ago
- Time Out
7 reasons to visit Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai at night
There are plenty of options for Expo evening eats, with pavilion restaurants eagerly promoting the culinary cultures of the participating countries. Our pick of the bunch is the multicourse menu at the Spain Pavilion that offers dishes from 17 autonomous regions and two autonomous cities of the diverse European country for ¥5,500. It's a true trip on your plate, and you can compare and enjoy pintxos and tapas that highlight the characteristics of each region's cuisine. It's a meal that tells the story of Spain's rich history, where races, cultures and religions have mixed together over the centuries. There are dishes from Andalusia, where Islamic rule inspired the culinary techniques and traditions, and the Canary Islands, which are closer to continental Africa than Europe. It goes perfectly with Spanish drinks such as sangria and Cava, a sparkling wine. Run by the famous Osaka restaurateur Etxola, the eatery can be entered from outside the pavilion, making it a convenient place to fill your stomach with an indulgent meal. The night view of the pavilion itself is also a must-see, so don't forget to take in the view of the exterior after your gastronomic tour of the country.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
British father-to-be feels like ‘second class citizen' over family visa rules
David Todd, 33, is calling on the Government to reform the policy, including to scrap or lower the minimum income requirement (MIR) for British citizens to bring their partners to the country, as ministers mull over updating the visa route. His plea comes as charities Reunite Families UK and Coram published reports on Monday documenting the 'significant emotional and psychological harm' to families from the policy, particularly for children who grow up under long separation from one of their parents. Mr Todd had hoped to move back to the UK from Germany with his American wife, Claire Todd, 32, before the birth of their first baby which is due in October. But the couple are facing being split up for Mr Todd to return to the UK alone to build up enough income proof as the British citizen in the relationship, or raise savings of more than £88,500 dictated by the visa rules to allow them to return as a family. Mr Todd told the PA news agency: 'There's been lots of times where I've stayed awake at night worrying about it and how it's all going to work out, because you feel completely helpless. 'It's like we're second class citizens because we married someone who fell in love with someone who wasn't British.' Earlier this month the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) set out its recommendations after a review requested by the Home Secretary to look at how to set an MIR for family visas that balances economic wellbeing and family life. It warned against raising the threshold for family visas to the same level for skilled workers, as planned by the previous government. Skilled workers are only eligible to come to the UK if they earn a salary of £38,700 or more, compared to £29,000 required mainly for family visas. The UK's current £29,000 threshold, which was set in 2024, is high compared to other high-income countries reviewed by the MAC. It was previously set at £18,600 since 2012. Mr Todd, from Solihull, West Midlands, added increasing the level to £38,700 would be 'devastating'. 'Even with this MAC report now, we don't know what the Government's going to do, how they're going to react,' the classical music conductor said. 'It's this feeling that you're kind of helpless, you're stuck in limbo, and you're desperately trying to contort yourself into this position where you can make it work just because you want to live with your wife or husband.' The couple, living in Wurzburg, Germany, first left the UK after Ms Todd's student visa ended and moved to the European nation so they could be together seven years ago. After building 'good careers' as classical musicians on the continent, the couple began trying to make a return to the UK up to a year ago, wanting to be near family as they start their own. For Mr Todd, he said the Government should at least make the ways to prove income easier, and to include the spouse's salary to contribute to the income threshold. He said it is 'ridiculous' his wife's income cannot be used to meet the salary requirement despite her remote job as a content creator paying enough to mean they 'could move to the UK tomorrow'. Mr Todd said he wants to 'avoid at all costs' the prospect of being separated from his wife and child, adding: 'It just feels wrong, am I going to have to turn to my child when she's older and say to her: 'Well, sorry, the reason I wasn't with you for the first year of your life was because I was trying to get work for the family to move.'' British father Ed Moon, currently living in Taipei with his Taiwanese wife Amber Moon and four-year-old daughter Maya, is also applying to the family visa route to move back to the UK as Maya reaches school age. He told PA the most difficult thing is the 'extremely extensive' documentation you need to provide with any errors meaning the visa is denied and the process must be started again, with visa fees costing around £2,000. 'We're having to dip into every ounce of our savings to do this,' the 36-year-old from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, said. 'You feel just unwanted by your country essentially. It's been especially tough, really like from a personal perspective.' The journalist also said it is a waste of money for the taxpayer for him to grow up and be educated in the UK, to then not let him and his family live there, adding: 'I want to be able to contribute to the UK.' The research by Reunite Families and Coram found that British citizens face exile, increased financial pressure and separation from their partners often for long periods of time from the family visa policy. For children separated from one of their parents, the charities warned they can face life-changing trauma and distress. The report also highlighted how the rules particularly discriminate against those including British mothers, who are more likely to experience hardship, working class and low income partners and black and ethnic minority workers, who are more likely to earn less than their white counterparts. Reunite Families UK executive director Caroline Coombs said 'simple and practical changes' from the Home Office could make significant differences to families, starting with scrapping the MIR and simplifying the rules and application process to stop the need for expensive legal advice. 'These rules have become the tax on love. People are suffering and want to be heard.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We understand the minimum income requirement for family visas needs to balance a respect for family life while also maintaining the UK's economic stability, which is why the Home Secretary commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to undertake a review. 'We are now considering its findings and will respond in due course.'
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Brexit rules spark ‘clear demand' for more motorhome parking, lobby group says
Boosting provision for these vehicles would generate more revenue for local businesses and increase the number of visitors to tourist destinations outside the peak summer season, the Campaign for Real Aires (Campra) said. Aires is a French word used to describe designated stopping places for motorcaravans – the collective term for motorhomes and campervans – which are much more common in continental Europe than the UK. Post-Brexit rules mean UK passport holders are prohibited from being in the Schengen area – which covers most of the European Union and some other European nations – for more than 90 days within a 180-day period. That means many UK-based motorcaravan users are seeking domestic destinations for overnight trips. But a survey of 6,731 users suggested 88% are dissatisfied with the UK's availability of overnight parking in desirable locations. The poll also indicated that motorcaravaners spend an average of £51 per day in local businesses and £23 per night on overnight parking or campsite fees. Many respondents commented on the UK's lack of infrastructure and welcoming attitude compared with continental Europe, Campra said. Last month, Hampshire County Council approved plans to ban campervans and motorhomes from staying overnight at the south coast beauty spot of Keyhaven, near Lymington. It claimed the move would 'bring order' to the area. Campra managing director Steve Haywood said welcoming motorcaravans to an area 'can be a hugely positive move'. He went on: 'There is a clear demand – emphasised by post-Brexit travel restrictions – for more overnight stay options in UK towns and cities, and those towns and cities could benefit hugely by embracing motorcaravans. 'More councils are seeing the benefits of providing facilities, instead of suffering the cost of enforcement and bans, not to mention the loss of potential revenue to businesses. 'In Fleetwood, Lancashire, for example, the introduction of overnight parking in the seafront car park for £5 per night has seen a huge boost in revenue for local shops, and has been so successful that additional facilities are now being planned for motorcaravanners. 'Every council that has operated a 12-month trial aire has been successful and made the overnight parking permanent.' Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency figures show more than 416,000 motorcaravans are registered in the UK. A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: 'Policies around overnight motorcaravan parking and the provision of facilities are a matter for local councils.'
