Eurostar Plans 50 New Trains, Routes to Frankfurt, Geneva

Eurostar plans to expand its high-speed rail services by introducing direct routes from London to Frankfurt and Geneva in the early 2030s, marking the company's first foray into Germany and Switzerland. This expansion will be supported by an investment of around €2 billion to acquire up to 50 new trains, increasing Eurostar's fleet by 30% to 67 trains. Journey times are expected to be approximately five hours to Frankfurt and just over five hours to Geneva, catering to strong demand from business and leisure travelers seeking sustainable travel options. The new routes, along with increased services between London, Amsterdam, and Brussels, aim to capitalize on growing passenger numbers, which rose 5% to 19.5 million in 2024, supported by record profits and focused cost management. Eurostar's CEO emphasized the importance of partnerships and infrastructure upgrades, including border checkpoints and station capacity, to realize these plans. However, Eurostar faces emerging competition on its Channel Tunnel routes, with other operators seeking regulatory approval to enter the market.