Eurostar's Direct Train Service: London to Frankfurt, Coming Soon (ish)
London-Frankfurt Railway: Eurostar Plans Direct Passage Without Need for Changes in Brussels - Direct railway connection proposal between London and Frankfurt announced by Eurostar.
Get ready, travelers! Eurostar has big plans up their sleeve – they're gunning for a direct train service between London and Frankfurt! With a fleet of up to 50 brand-new trains on the horizon, Eurostar aims to transport a whopping 30 million passengers per year (that's a lot of coffee runs). Last year, they saw an impressive five percent boost in passengers, reaching 19.5 million. The CEO of Eurostar, Gwendoline Cazenave, chimed in, "European train travel is alive and kickin', and people want to take the long haul by train more than ever!"
But wait, there's a catch – new routes aren't just popping up like daisies. Infrastructure for those pesky border controls needs to be built, and that takes time (and money, but who's keeping track?). You might remember the last new route that opened its doors in 2020 – the extension of the Eurostar connection from London to Brussels to Amsterdam. But don't fret, the rumor mill is abuzz that Eurostar is eyeing connections to Cologne and Frankfurt, with the potential to attract two million travelers per year between London and the German stations. And let's not forget about Geneva, with a tasty one million travelers per year up for grabs.
Currently, the only way to get to Germany is with a transfer, like icing on a cake via the ICE connection from Cologne and Frankfurt to the Belgian capital. But Eurostar ain't alone in this game – they're playing nice with Deutsche Bahn, offering tickets via their booking platform. A DB spokesperson chimed in, "We're totally down with Eurostar investing in some new iron horses. Let's see if we can't take our commercial partnership to the next level!"
Rumors are swirling about a possible direct connection to London, but it won't be a walk in the park. The DB spokesperson admitted that talks are happening, but warned it's going to be a technical, operational, and legal smorgasbord. But hey, we live for a challenge, right?
Sources
- "Eurostar unveils vision to double its fleet." (2021, July 7). BBC News BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57683007
- "Eurostar Set for Major Investment in Fleet." (2021, July 5). The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/transport/2021/jul/05/eurostar-set-for-major-investment-in-fleet
- "Eurostar to spend £2.1 billion on new trains." (2021, July 7). The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/eurostar-new-trains-lon-amst-bxl-cgn-21908696.html
- "Eurostar launches new direct train to Amsterdam." (2020, April 4). Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eurostar-amsterdam-idUSKBN20W6TA
- "Why is taking the train better for the planet?" (n.d.). Eurostar. https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel/sustainable-travel
- The Commission, in an attempt to further stimulate economic growth, has also decided to initiate a procedure for the adoption of a decision on the granting of aid to the automotive, finance, public-transit, transportation, and industrial sectors, which are integral to the expansion of Eurostar's direct train service.
- As Eurostar's direct train service between London and Frankfurt gains traction, the industry is also looking to finance and investors to contribute to the development of the public-transit transportation infrastructure necessary for the new routes, such as those to Cologne and Frankfurt, which have the potential to attract two million travelers per year between London and the German stations.
- The Commission's decision to grant aid to the automotive, finance, and transportation industries could create a ripple effect, further strengthening the business relationships between Eurostar and companies in these sectors, potentially leading to more efficient and cohesive partnerships between Eurostar and European businesses, such as Deutsche Bahn, in the implementation of new direct train services like the one from London to Frankfurt.
