Eurostar vows to launch direct train between Geneva and London

With Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and other new providers already promising their own direct rail services between Swiss cities and London, the current kings of the Channel Tunnel have now thrown their hat into the ring: Eurostar has confirmed that it will be looking to launch new trains to destinations in Germany and Switzerland.

Eurostar committed to launching Switzerland-UK rail routes

As demand grows and plans are made for more cross-channel rail services between the United Kingdom and mainland Europe, Eurostar - the only provider to run long-distance rail services between London, Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam - has been largely silent. Now, however, the company has committed to expanding to other destinations.

In a report given to The Guardian, Eurostar has vowed to run direct trains from the UK to Germany and Switzerland. The company said that conditions were “finally right” to start offering more routes, and that a “new golden age of international sustainable travel” was on its way. 

London to Geneva will be the first Swiss Eurostar route

The first new route set to take to the tracks will be between London and Frankfurt, before an extra service to Geneva is added. These trains are expected to bring passengers to the British capital in five hours and five hours and 20 minutes, respectively. To do this, the rail operator plans to buy 50 additional high-speed trains.

The Guardian suggested that the announcement is a bid to ward off advances by other possible competitors, such as the Virgin Group, Gemini Trains, Evolyn, SBB and FS Italiane. The push for action has also been sped up by the UK Office of Rail and Road, which is soon expected to announce whether the one remaining depot space available to service cross-Channel trains will be awarded to Eurostar or a different company.

Switzerland and the UK keen to launch a train as soon as possible

Over the past year, both the UK and Swiss governments have voiced their approval for a direct train between the two countries. After SBB said it wanted to run the route at the beginning of 2025, Switzerland and the UK signed a joint agreement in May, committing to the new route between London, Zurich, Geneva and/or Basel. With London being the most popular destination for Swiss airports, the appeal of such a green, fast, direct rail link is clear.

However, there are several hurdles standing in the way of the route. First, SBB or Eurostar would have to get approval to run the route through France, and the former company would have to buy a fleet of high-speed trains. Crucially, passport and customs facilities would also need to be built in Zurich, Basel or Geneva, meaning both Eurostar and the Swiss government see the early 2030s as the most realistic start date.

While Eurostar wants to continue to monopolise the cross-Channel market, there are signs that a bit of competition could do the company some good. A 2024 study from the European Federation for Transport and Environment ranked Eurostar as the worst train provider in Europe, due to sky-high ticket prices, the absence of night trains and poor reliability and compensation policies.