Eurostar Unveils Plans for Direct Services to Germany and Switzerland Amid Expansion Challenges
London, June 10 — Eurostar has announced ambitious plans to launch direct high-speed train services from London to Germany and Switzerland by the early 2030s, marking a major expansion of its European rail network.
The cross-Channel rail operator said it intends to invest €2 billion (£1.7 billion) in a new fleet of up to 50 trains that will connect London to Frankfurt in approximately five hours and to Geneva in just over five hours. The new services aim to meet growing demand for international rail travel and position Eurostar as a more sustainable alternative to short-haul flights.
“A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here,” said Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave. “Customers are wanting to go further by rail than ever before.”
The expanded fleet will replace older trains and lead to a 30% increase in the number of Eurostar services operating to and from London. In addition to the new Frankfurt and Geneva routes, Eurostar is exploring direct connections to Geneva from Amsterdam and Brussels.
However, questions remain about whether Eurostar can accommodate the increased number of trains at its only UK depot, Temple Mills in east London. The facility is currently the sole UK site capable of handling the larger European train models and is connected directly to the cross-Channel route. It is managed by London St Pancras Highspeed (formerly HS1), a government-backed body.
While Eurostar currently has exclusive access to Temple Mills, it may soon face competition from other firms looking to enter the cross-Channel market. These include Spanish start-up Evolyn, Richard Branson’s Virgin, and a joint venture between Gemini Trains and Uber. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the industry regulator, is now reviewing rival proposals and has stated that the depot can only support either Eurostar’s expanded fleet or a competitor’s operations—not both.
The ORR is expected to make a decision by the end of October. A ruling in favour of a competitor could jeopardise Eurostar’s expansion plans. In response, the company said it would continue to explore private investment in new depot facilities if necessary.
Eurostar’s announcement follows a strong performance in 2024, with a record 19.5 million passengers across its network—up 5% from the previous year. The firm also confirmed plans to increase frequency on its busiest route between London and Paris.
Currently, Eurostar connects London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, and offers seasonal services to the French Alps. It also operates domestic services within France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
The company’s expansion plans come as Getlink, owner of the Channel Tunnel, moves to increase cross-Channel rail capacity under a new agreement with London St Pancras Highspeed signed in February.s
