EUROPE: Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn are working together to develop plans to launch direct high speed train services between London and major German cities such as Köln and Frankfurt in the early 2030s.
In a joint announcement on December 4, the two operators said launching a direct service between the UK and Germany ‘is considered highly challenging to be implemented by individual railway undertakings’, and so ‘joint partnerships are therefore critical’. Eurostar is contributing its expertise in cross-Channel rail travel, with DB bringing its ‘network and presence across Germany’.
The proposed services would use the Avelia Horizon Celestia double-deck high speed trainsets which Eurostar ordered from Alstom in October this year with entry into service planned from May 2031. The journey time from London to Köln would be around 4 h, with Frankfurt just over 5 h from London.
Michael Peterson, member of the management board for Long-Distance Passenger Transport at DB, said ‘Europe is coming together ever more closely by rail. In co-operation with Eurostar, we also want to bring Germany and the UK closer together at high speed. We are convinced of the great potential of such a direct connection. 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.’
Exploring options
Eurostar and DB have signed a memorandum of understanding setting out their intention to explore options for timetables and for terminal facilities which would permit the international border and security controls required for trains to the UK; the need for secure border areas at departure stations has been a major stumbling block for past ambitions to launch new train services to the UK.
The operators welcomed the ‘strong political support’ reflected in the Treaty on Friendship & Bilateral Co-operation signed on July 17 2025, in which the UK and Germany committed to ‘seek to facilitate direct long distance rail passenger services between their countries’.
The relevant ministries of both countries have set up a task force to address the political challenges involved, especially regarding entry formalities and the necessary infrastructure and intergovernmental agreements. This met for the first time in Berlin on November 25.
German Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder said the task force is ‘already working intensively on the legal, infrastructural and political requirements’ for the proposed service, saying ‘I very much welcome that the companies involved are now taking up this thread. I am certain that this project will be a great benefit for all rail passengers throughout Europe.’
UK Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said ‘I am 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. A direct rail link will support the creation of jobs, strengthen vital trade links and build a sustainable connection that will make international travel easier and greener.’
