Eurostar sets sights on new routes to Germany and Switzerland 

Eurostar plans to expand services to Frankfurt and Geneva in a bid to draw travellers away from flying.

 

The routes to Germany and Switzerland could start from the “early 2030s”.

 

They would be served by a fleet of up to 50 new trains Eurostar plans to order at a cost of €2 billion for use on high speed services through the Channel Tunnel, as well as on routes across the Continent that were previously under the Thalys brand.

 

Frankfurt and Geneva have been earmarked due to their shared status as financial hubs that are also popular for leisure travel. 

 

Journey times would be about five hours between London and Frankfurt, or five hours and 20 minutes to Geneva.

 

In the short-term, a fourth daily service to Rotterdam and Amsterdam will be added from September 9 and a fifth from mid-December.  

 

Eurostar achieved 2024 earnings [ebitda] of €346 million with revenue up 2% to €2 billion due to growth in passengers travelling and focused cost management in the face of a "challenging economic climate, driven by high inflation and increases in fixed costs".

 

Passenger numbers rose by 5% year-on-year to more than 19.5 million.

 

Eurostar chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave said she believed many passengers were prepared to take longer train journeys rather than flying as they “want to travel more sustainably”. 

 

She 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.”

 

However, she said opening new routes required “time, investments, expertise, a huge amount of energy and partnerships”. 

 

The UK and Switzerland signed a memorandum of understanding last month aimed at establishing direct train services between the two countries.

 

Eurostar has had the monopoly on high-speed services through the Channel tunnel since it opened in 1994 but now faces three new challengers hoping to start competing services in 2029.

 

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) last week said it was seeking evidence from Eurostar and potential rivals so it can decide on how best to allocate spare capacity at a crucial high speed train maintenance depot in north London.

 

Eurostar currently operates from London St Pancras to destinations such as Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris.  

 

Paul Conroy, head of partnerships at flight-free travel specialist Byway, said: “This announcement marks an exciting milestone for responsible travel, and we’re thrilled to see it come to fruition.

 

“Following the ORR’s statement earlier this year – which opened the door to increased competition – we’ve seen a lot of noise from other travel operators.

 

“It’s encouraging to see Eurostar respond so boldly with their investment plans, making rail travel to Europe a more viable option for holidaymakers.

 

“At Byway, we strongly believe train travel reconnects you with the sense of adventure that flying simply can’t provide.

 

“Making flight-free travel easier, cheaper and more accessible is essential for a more sustainable future, and this commitment is a great step towards this.

 

“With continued investment, we hope more people will discover the joy of the journey.”