Eurostar on track for direct UK-Germany link by early 2030s

Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn (DB) have confirmed joint plans for a direct high-speed rail connection between Germany and London.

 

In a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed this week, the companies said they will explore options to offer a direct service between London and major German cities, such as Cologne and Frankfurt. 

 

It follows the first meeting of a joint UK-Germany taskforce in Berlin on November 25, bringing together transport experts from both governments and industries to pave the way for direct international rail.

 

Set to start in the early 2030s, the routes would use Eurostar’s new double-decker Celestia fleet, which offers 20% more capacity and makes up to 50% in energy savings compared with its existing trains.

 

Passengers could soon travel between London and Cologne in about four hours and Frankfurt in just over five hours.

 

The news comes as German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier finishes a three-day state visit to the UK.

 

He joined the British prime minister and chancellor in hosting a roundtable with British and German business leaders in London on Wednesday (December 4).

 

Prime minister Keir Starmer said: “This brings us 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.”

 

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander added: “This partnership between Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn has the potential to transform cross border rail travel in Europe for generations to come.

 

“I’m delighted that following productive discussions with my German counterpart in the summer, we are speeding ahead with our ambitions to change how millions of people travel between our two countries.”

 

Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar chief executive, said the partnership with DB is 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,” she commented.

 

“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.

 

Michael Peterson, board director for long-distance passenger travel at DB, said: “Europe is coming together ever more closely by rail. In cooperation with Eurostar, we also want to bring Germany and the UK closer together at high speed.

 

“However, this project also shows that new cross-border long-distance services are often only possible through partnerships like this, due to complex framework conditions.”