Eurostar to launch direct trains from the UK to Germany and Switzerland

Eurostar, the operator of high-speed rail services, has announced plans to launch new direct routes from the UK to Germany and Switzerland, significantly expanding its network of European destinations. The new routes from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, set to begin operating in the early 2030s, will let the company strengthen its position in the international passenger transport market and expand opportunities for travellers.

Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave called this the start of "a new golden age of sustainable international travel." The company plans to invest €2 billion (£1.7 billion) in purchasing up to 50 new trains, expanding its overall fleet by 30%, to 67 units.

Eurostar currently operates services from the UK to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, as well as seasonal services to the French Alps. The new destinations in Germany and Switzerland will offer journey times of around five hours to Frankfurt and about five hours twenty minutes to Geneva. These figures are comparable to flying, once transfer time and airport checks are factored in. Direct Eurostar trains will run without changes, making rail travel an attractive option for both business and leisure trips.

"We're seeing strong demand for travel across Europe — travellers want to go further by train and enjoy the unique experience we offer," Cazenave stressed.

The decision to launch new routes comes amid growing competition in the cross-Channel rail market. Virgin Trains, Gemini, and a joint venture between FS Italiane and Evolyn intend to challenge Eurostar's thirty-year monopoly. The UK rail regulator recently allowed competitors to use Eurostar's depot in the Temple Mills area of London. Despite this, Eurostar plans to lean into the niche of sustainable travel, meeting growing passenger demand.

In 2024, Eurostar carried 19.5 million passengers, a 5% increase in passenger numbers compared with the previous year, driven in part by the Paris Olympics. Eurostar Group President Alain Krakovitch noted that the company aims to reach 30 million passengers, continuing to actively develop its European routes.

The company will also expand its existing routes: the number of daily London–Paris services will increase from 17 to 20, and the number of services to Amsterdam will rise to five daily by the end of 2025.

The governments of the UK and Switzerland already signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2025, which will facilitate setting up direct rail routes, including border control and security arrangements in the Channel Tunnel.