Eurostar rival could offer direct routes from London to 5 major European cities

British travellers may soon be able to reach top European destinations in under six hours via high-speed trains departing from London St Pancras. Plans for a cross-channel expansion, driven by London St Pancras High Speed (which recently rebranded from HS1), aims to offer direct rail routes to major cities in Germany, Switzerland, and France.

The company, which owns the station and the high-speed track to Folkestone in Kent, has proposed plans for a redesigned terminal which hopes to attract new railway operators to compete with Eurostar and other existing rail operators. London St Pancras Highspeed has also partnered with Getlink, the French firm that operates the Channel Tunnel, with the aim of growing international rail links between the UK and Europe.

Due to high passenger demand in these regions, Getlink told Metro they hope new direct services could serve five major European cities. A spokesperson said: ‘Market research from Eurotunnel demonstrated that customer demand for new destinations is clear and real: for Germany, specifically Köln and Frankfurt, Switzerland, Geneva and Zurich, and the South of France, for Marseille and Bordeaux.’.

Metro has asked Getlink for clarification over rumours of a planned route to Milan, which has been reported by other publications. The routes are yet to be confirmed, and decisions on destinations will be made by train operators. As for when the London St Pancras terminal will be expanded is also to be determined.

London St Pancras Highspeed and Eurotunnel say they are committed to advocating ‘rail first’ public policies and will actively work with governments to emphasise the environmental advantages of rail journeys under six hours. They aim to boost international passenger capacity at the London transport hub from 1,800 to 5,000 per hour by redesigning the departure area.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink, signals a formal commitment to collaborate on improving rail services. It includes plans to shorten journey times, improve timetable coordination, and run more trains each hour for international services in both directions.

To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro's London news hub. A spokesperson for London St. Pancras Highspeed told Metro: ‘Many European cities could be reached directly by train in under 6 hours, which we believe is competitive with short-haul air travel.

‘We know the public wants this choice thanks to the convenience of travelling by train and we will work with Eurotunnel to make new routes to Europe a reality for operators and passengers.’. The proposed expansion could break Eurostar’s monopoly over the tunnel. The company holds the sole passenger license through the Channel Tunnel with direct trains from London to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

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10 unmissable Time Out London deals – including £20 Sicilian lunch in Fitzrovia. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Evolyn, a new company set up by National Express investors, are also reportedly interested in running competing cross-channel routes.

Not too long ago, rail travel was seen as a thing of the past, overshadowed by the rise of low-cost airlines which offered cheaper and faster journeys. However, in an unexpected twist, trains have made a major comeback. In fact, the ‘rail renaissance’ is set to be one of the biggest travel trends for 2025, as tourists swap cramped plane seats for comfort and scenic vistas.

It’s not just a slower and more immersive way to travel, it’s an eco-friendly alternative for the environmentally conscious. Here is just some of the headlines around the train revival that Metro readers have been loving this month:. Do you have a story to share?.

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