Plans for London-Frankfurt direct rail route

London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink, the company behind Eurotunnel, have signed a partnership that could pave the way for new direct high-speed train routes to more European cities, including Frankfurt.

The London-Frankfurt route would potentially reduce travel time from the current nine hours and five minutes (with one change) to approximately five hours, appealing to travellers from the Gulf who often use London as a gateway to Europe.

Frankfurt is a perfect hub for tourists visiting Europe because of its central location as well as great connectivity for flights and trains.

Frankfurt, Park Schönbusch

The agreement hopes to incentivise more train operators to develop new routes to and from the British capital. Currently, Getlink serves as the UK's only international high-speed rail line, connecting London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam via Eurostar services, and also offers some seasonal ski services to the French Alps.

The ambitious plan aims "to make rail travel the preferred transport option to the continent" from the UK, according to a statement, and could nearly triple international passenger capacity by 2030, increasing from 1,800 to 5,000 people per hour.

While exact timelines are yet to be confirmed, new routes are expected to include direct connections from London St Pancras to Frankfurt, Cologne, Bordeaux, Marseille, Zurich, Geneva and Milan.

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Not just about convenience but also sustainability, high-speed rail travel between the UK and Europe already helps reduce emissions equivalent to 60,000 short-haul flights each year, according to research by London St Pancras Highspeed.

"We are keen to drive forward attractive opportunities for low-carbon mobility with a range of new destinations in Germany, Switzerland and France," said Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink.

The new rail routes would appeal to eco-conscious travellers as well as those seeking a more scenic journey or travelling with pets.

A blend of modern and historic architecture, world-class museums and vibrant culture, Frankfurt welcomed 42,000 visitors in 2024, up from 32,000 the previous year, with overnight stays up 24% to more than 100,000.

In comparison to other German cities, Frankfurt posted an 8.2% growth rate in overnight stays by international as well as domestic travellers between October and November 2024.

For more information, visit stpancras-highspeed.com. For more information on Frankfurt, visit www.visitfrankfurt.travel/en and follow Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

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