Eurostar Expands with Direct Trains to Frankfurt and Geneva

Eurostar announced plans to launch direct train services from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, investing €2 billion (£1.7 billion) in up to 50 new state-of-the-art trains by the early 2030s. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Eurostar Faces Depot Space Challenges

The direct service between London and Frankfurt will take about five hours, while the journey to Geneva is expected to be around five hours and 20 minutes. Despite these promising developments, Eurostar faces critical challenges due to limited depot space at Temple Mills in east London.

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CEO Gwendoline Cazenave highlighted that strong customer demand supports the expansion, even amidst economic pressures and increased operational costs. She emphasized a rising preference among travelers for sustainable, long-distance train journeys across Europe.

Introducing new trains will enable the company to replace older models, thus increasing London-bound services by approximately 30%. Additionally, plans include direct routes connecting Geneva with Amsterdam and Brussels, though the specifics regarding intermediate stops remain undetermined.

ORR Decision Crucial for Eurostar Expansion

The UK’s rail regulator, Office of Rail and Road (ORR), is reviewing proposals from Eurostar and competing firms like Evolyn, Virgin, and Gemini Trains-Uber partnership regarding usage of Temple Mills depot. This facility, operated by London St Pancras Highspeed, uniquely accommodates continental trains.

The ORR has clarified the depot can accommodate either Eurostar’s fleet expansion or competitors’ operations, but not both simultaneously. A decision expected by late October will significantly impact Eurostar’s expansion plans, potentially prompting alternative depot investments.

Recent passenger data reflects robust growth, with a 5% rise in travelers to a record 19.5 million in 2024. Furthermore, increased service frequency between London and Paris underscores Eurostar’s leading position in European rail travel.

Source: www.bbc.com

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