Eurostar to launch high-speed trains from UK to Germany and Switzerland

Train operator Eurostar has announced plans to launch three new routes, including services from London to Germany and Switzerland for the first time.

The rail company said it intends to start operating its high-speed trains from London to both Frankfurt and Geneva, as well as introducing a route from Amsterdam and Brussels to Geneva.

Eurostar said it would be able to launch the three new routes when it receives its fleet of up to 50 new trains, which are expected to start service in the early 2030s.

A spokesperson added that estimated journey times would be 5 hours for London to Frankfurt and 5 hours 20 minutes for the London-Geneva service. While the Amsterdam-Geneva journey would take 6 hours 20 minutes and Brussels-Geneva 4 hours 20 minutes.

The move comes as several potential rivals to Eurostar are lining up to offer competition on the high-speed line between the UK and continental Europe. These companies include Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Trenitalia operator FS Italiane Group.

Eurostar’s CEO Gwendoline Cazenave said: “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.”  

Eurostar’s planned network including the three new routes

The announcement of the new routes came as Eurostar revealed its financial results for 2024, which saw revenue increase by 2 per cent year-on-year to reach €2 billion as passenger numbers rose by 5 per cent from 18.6 million in 2023 to 19.5 million last year.

But Eurostar’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) fell from €423 million in 2023 to €346 million in 2024.

Eurostar, which merged with fellow high speed rail operator Thalys in 2023, is targeting passenger traffic of 30 million per year.

The company currently has a fleet of 51 trains in operation. The 50 new trains on order will operate alongside 17 current e320 trains, which will increase Eurostar’s total fleet to 67 trains during the next decade and allow it to expand its routes.

In the short term, Eurostar is planning to expand services between London, Rotterdam and Amsterdam following the restart of direct Amsterdam-London trains in February. This will see a fourth daily service starting from 9 September with a fifth daily train due to be added from mid-December.