London (AFP) – Eurostar said Tuesday it would launch new direct train routes from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, as potential competitors threaten to break its three-decade monopoly on cross-channel rail travel. The new direct routes would open from the early 2030s, in addition to new services from Amsterdam and Brussels to Geneva, the international rail company said.
Announced at the back of positive year-end results, Eurostar said in a statement that it would invest two billion euros (£1.6 billion) in the new services to major European cities and 50 new trains, bringing its total fleet to 67 trains. The announcement comes amid “continued demand for international rail travel across Europe”, according to Eurostar, which currently operates in the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
While it currently has connecting services to Cologne, the new routes will directly serve the German financial capital and global diplomatic hub Geneva. “Our new fleet will make new destinations for customers a reality — notably direct trains between London and Germany, and between London and Switzerland for the first time. A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here,” said Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave.
According to the rail company, passenger numbers rose to over 19.5 million in 2024, marking a five percent increase from the previous year. It has a target of ferrying 30 million passengers annually. The Eurostar Group merges operations of Eurostar, which operates in the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France, and Thalys, which runs high-speed rail services from Paris to Amsterdam and German cities. Eurostar also said it would increase daily services between London, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam starting later this year.
“I am pleased to welcome this exciting investment into Eurostar services, which is a huge step in promoting green travel across Europe and boosting our international rail connections,” UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. The announcements come as Eurostar’s three-decade monopoly in the Channel Tunnel looks likely to end. Earlier this year, Britain’s Office of Rail and Road opened access to a maintenance depot along the Paris-London route to other firms, removing a hurdle to competitors offering services. Italian railway operator Trenitalia and British billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Group have since signalled plans to open their own services on the cross-Channel line.
© 2024 AFP
