Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn have taken a major step toward linking Britain and Germany by high-speed rail, unveiling plans to work towards direct services between London and key German cities for the first time. The move, confirmed through a newly signed memorandum of understanding, aims to begin operations in the early 2030s.

Under the proposals, trains would run from London to destinations such as Cologne and Frankfurt without the need to change in Brussels or Paris. The link would make use of Eurostar’s incoming Celestia fleet – double-deck high-speed trains offering a 20% boost in capacity and up to 50% energy savings on current models.

The announcement comes shortly after the launch of a joint UK-Germany taskforce in Berlin on 25 November, bringing together transport officials and industry leaders to identify the challenges of cross-border rail operations and smooth the path for new international services.

Journey times are expected to be competitive with air travel, with London–Cologne possible in roughly four hours and Frankfurt in just over five. As well as offering passengers a direct city-centre connection, the project is being positioned as a greener alternative to flying, with potential benefits for tourism, trade and economic growth in both countries.

The plans were revealed as German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier concluded a three-day state visit to the UK, where he met the Prime Minister and Chancellor at Downing Street alongside British and German business representatives.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed the initiative, saying:

"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."

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

"This partnership between Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn has the potential to transform cross border rail travel in Europe for generations to come. I’m delighted that following productive discussions with my German counterpart in the summer, we are speeding ahead with our ambitions to change how millions of people travel between our two countries. A direct rail link will support the creation of jobs, strengthen vital trade links and build a sustainable connection that will make international travel easier and greener."

Gwendoline Cazenave, Eurostar CEO, said:

"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."

Michael Peterson, DB-Vorstand Personenfernverkehr, added:

"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."

Image: Gov.uk