A major step forward has been made that could see direct trains from London to Germany.

Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn have confirmed plans to bring the connection and have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding, signalling the intention to explore options to operate trains between London and German cities such as Cologne and Frankfurt.

The service is set to start in the early 2030s, using Eurostar’s new double-decker Celestia fleet.

Journey times could be around 4 hours to Cologne and 5 hours to Frankfurt, providing a more sustainable alternative to flying.

This forms the UK Government’s plan to boost international rail connectivity and deliver more travel options for passengers

“This brings us one step closer to a new rail link that will put Britain at the heart of a better-connected Europe and paves the way for increased trade, tourism and investment.

“From establishing pioneering cross-continent routes to freezing domestic rail fares for the first time in 30 years, transport is just one of the many ways this Government is investing in international relationships to cut the cost of living back home.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer

“We’re thrilled to kick off this partnership with DB. It’s a big step towards making travel between London and Germany more sustainable and effortless. By combining Eurostar’s cross-channel know-how and new fleet with DB’s strong presence in Germany, we’re creating a whole new level of connectivity and convenience for our customers.  

“This partnership will help continue to power Eurostar’s growth and bring us closer to our goal of carrying 30 million passengers across our network.” 

CEO Eurostar Gwendoline Cazenave

“Europe is coming together ever more closely by rail. In cooperation with Eurostar, we also want to bring Germany and the UK closer together at high speed. We are convinced of the great potential of such a direct connection.  

“However, this project also shows that new cross-border long-distance services are often only possible through partnerships like this, due to complex framework conditions.”  

DB-Vorstand Personenfernverkehr Michael Peterson