"Exciting milestone": Switzerland and UK reach agreement on direct train to London

Switzerland and the United Kingdom have signed an agreement committing to the launch of a direct rail service between Swiss cities and London. Following this “exciting and important milestone”, when will we be able to pack our bags and head off to the British capital?

Switzerland and UK agree to launch direct trains to London

Earlier this May, Transport Minister Albert Rösti (SVP) and British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander signed a new agreement, committing to a new public transport service between Switzerland and the UK. The document "lays the necessary foundations” needed for the first direct rail service between the two nations, the Swiss Department of Transport wrote in a statement.

Following Swiss Federal Railways’ (SBB) commitment to running the route earlier this year, the new agreement is yet another step towards direct services between Swiss cities - likely to be Zurich, Basel and/or Geneva - and London. From now on, the UK and Swiss governments will work together with experts to make the route a reality.

Speaking to reporters, Heidi Alexander said the deal was an “exciting and important milestone”, noting that “a direct rail link between the UK and Switzerland has the potential to boost tourism, grow our economy and bring people closer together – all while offering a greener option for passengers.” Rösti agreed, noting that the “ambitious” plans “would send a strong signal in favour of international public transport.”

SBB trains could reach London in five to six hours

The benefits of a rail line between Switzerland and the UK are easy to see, with flights to London being the most popular for Swiss airports. Using the Channel Tunnel and existing high-speed lines through France, a train from the alpine nation to the UK could reach its destination in five to six hours, depending on whether and where it stops.

Speaking to Watson, Department of Transport spokesperson Franziska Ingold announced that no government funds will be used to establish the line, noting that SBB would pay for the service through its own funds and tickets. For its part, SBB welcomed the announcement, stating that the agreement was “an important step”.

When will the Switzerland-London train take to the tracks?

As it stands, the new Switzerland-London train is expected to take to the tracks by 2030 at the earliest. This is because several hurdles have to be overcome, namely SBB has to purchase its own high-speed trains (if it is to run the line itself), a political agreement needs to be reached between the UK, France and Switzerland, and stations in Zurich, Geneva and/or Basel will have to convert one of their platforms to allow for passport and customs checks, as the UK is not part of the EU or the Schengen Agreement.