London is one step closer to getting a direct high-speed train to some of Germany’s most iconic cities.
Eurostar and German national rail company Deutsche Bahn (DB) are exploring options to run non-stop services between the UK and Europe’s largest economy, the Department of Transport has confirmed.
Set to start in the early 2030s, the routes would use Eurostar’s new double-decker Celestia fleet, set to be the first double-decker rolling stock operated in the UK and the Channel Tunnel.
If plans go ahead, millions of passengers could reach Cologne in four hours and Frankfurt in less than five hours from the UK capital.
But nothing has been said about a direct service to Berlin, despite Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, praising the idea earlier this year.
What would change?
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While we don’t have specifics right now, the plan has the potential to change how millions travel between the UK and Germany, with an estimated 3,200,000 Brits having visited in 2023.
These moves could change the face of European train travel, providing more choice, more comfort, and a more sustainable alternative to flying.
As it stands, you must change trains in Brussels to reach German destinations. It takes at least five-and-a-half hours to get to Frankfurt, and a little over four hours to arrive in Cologne.
Shorter journeys, such as those to Frankfurt and Cologne, are seen as more commercially viable than the current 10-hour train journey time to Berlin.
Market studies conducted by Eurostar found travellers are comfortable with international rail journeys of up to six hours.
‘Our research indicates that many would choose rail over air for trips within this timeframe,’ Eurostar told Sky News. ‘This, combined with strong business and leisure demand on this route, is why we have prioritised London to Frankfurt.’
What about Berlin, then?
In July, Mark Smith, an expert in rail travel who runs the popular Man in Seat 61 website, exclusively told Metro that a direct link between London and Berlin is unlikely.
‘If you’re running several trains a day from Frankfurt or Cologne, you can probably justify that. One train a day to Berlin that would take all day, you probably can’t justify that,’ he said.
‘I think it is unlikely that an operator will find a commercial way to run a train all the way to and from Berlin with full customs, border control and passport checks located in Berlin.
‘As distance increases, the track access costs rise, the number of journeys you get out of the rolling stop dramatically reduces – to Berlin, you are basically going to get one journey a day out of a very expensive piece of kit.
‘And yet, the money you can get from London to Berlin isn’t that much greater than London to Brussels because a one-directional flight, which you’re competing with, is about the same cost.’
Will it definitely happen?
That remains to be seen.
This isn’t the first time a direct route between London and Frankfurt has been looked at, for instance.
In 2010, Deutsche Bahn tried (and failed) with proposals for the Inter City Express, which were shelved after it encountered a mass of red tape and complications, including differences in train voltage, crossing borders and tunnels.
This time, DB has been clear that these services will only happen if Germany and the UK work together.
‘Implementation by individual railway companies is considered extremely difficult,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Joint partnerships are therefore crucial.’
Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said: ‘We’re thrilled to kick off this partnership with DB. It’s a big step towards making travel between London and Germany more sustainable and effortless.
‘By combining Eurostar’s cross-channel know-how and new fleet with DB’s strong presence in Germany, we’re creating a whole new level of connectivity and convenience for our customers. This partnership will help continue to power Eurostar’s growth and bring us closer to our goal of carrying 30 million passengers across our network.’
Sir Keir Starmer also welcomed the plans, saying they bring the UK ‘one step closer to a new rail link that will put Britain at the heart of a better-connected Europe and paves the way for increased trade, tourism and investment’.