Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar and Germany’s state rail giant Deutsche Bahn (DB) have signed an agreement in principle to run non-stop high-speed trains between London St Pancras and Cologne and Frankfurt in the early 2030s. The announcement—made jointly with the UK Department for Transport on 4 December 2025—marks the first concrete step towards plugging Britain directly into Germany’s Inter-City-Express (ICE) network.
Under the plan, a joint Eurostar-DB task-force will spend the next 18 months working through technical, security and commercial hurdles. Chief among them are Channel Tunnel safety certification for DB’s forthcoming double-deck “Celestia” trainsets, juxtaposed border-control arrangements at Cologne and Frankfurt, and track-access slots on Britain’s congested High Speed 1 and the Belgian network. The companies say the proposed timetable would cut current journey times from more than six-and-a-half hours (with a change in Brussels) to around five hours, creating a credible alternative to short-haul flights.
![Eurostar–Deutsche Bahn deal sets stage for first direct London-Germany high-speed rail link]()
Business-travel stakeholders welcomed the move. Corporate travel managers told Global Mobility News that a five-hour, city-centre-to-city-centre rail option would slot neatly into most sustainability policies that now favour rail over air on sub-six-hour itineraries. Multinationals with dual UK-German operations—particularly in finance, automotive and pharmaceuticals—see the link as a way to trim door-to-door times, avoid airport queues and slash Scope 3 emissions. If approved, the project would also support expatriate assignments by making weekend commuting between sites feasible without flying.
For mobility teams, the biggest unknown is how post-Brexit immigration formalities will be handled. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed that discussions are already under way with the Home Office and the German Federal Ministry of the Interior to pilot “pre-clearance” facilities—similar to the juxtaposed controls used at Paris Nord and Brussels-Midi. Eurostar says the roll-out of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system and digital eVisas will make advance passenger screening easier, but carriers still need dedicated space in German stations for UK Border Force officers.
The London-Germany link is part of a wider push by the Labour government to expand international rail connectivity, reduce aviation emissions and increase inbound tourism. Ministers hinted that the project could unlock further routes—Geneva and Zurich are already mooted—and attract new entrants such as Virgin or Trenitalia to the cross-Channel market. For now, Eurostar and DB aim to finalise a business case by late 2026, order rolling-stock in 2027 and start services “early in the next decade” if all permissions are secured.
Under the plan, a joint Eurostar-DB task-force will spend the next 18 months working through technical, security and commercial hurdles. Chief among them are Channel Tunnel safety certification for DB’s forthcoming double-deck “Celestia” trainsets, juxtaposed border-control arrangements at Cologne and Frankfurt, and track-access slots on Britain’s congested High Speed 1 and the Belgian network. The companies say the proposed timetable would cut current journey times from more than six-and-a-half hours (with a change in Brussels) to around five hours, creating a credible alternative to short-haul flights.
Business-travel stakeholders welcomed the move. Corporate travel managers told Global Mobility News that a five-hour, city-centre-to-city-centre rail option would slot neatly into most sustainability policies that now favour rail over air on sub-six-hour itineraries. Multinationals with dual UK-German operations—particularly in finance, automotive and pharmaceuticals—see the link as a way to trim door-to-door times, avoid airport queues and slash Scope 3 emissions. If approved, the project would also support expatriate assignments by making weekend commuting between sites feasible without flying.
For mobility teams, the biggest unknown is how post-Brexit immigration formalities will be handled. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed that discussions are already under way with the Home Office and the German Federal Ministry of the Interior to pilot “pre-clearance” facilities—similar to the juxtaposed controls used at Paris Nord and Brussels-Midi. Eurostar says the roll-out of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system and digital eVisas will make advance passenger screening easier, but carriers still need dedicated space in German stations for UK Border Force officers.
The London-Germany link is part of a wider push by the Labour government to expand international rail connectivity, reduce aviation emissions and increase inbound tourism. Ministers hinted that the project could unlock further routes—Geneva and Zurich are already mooted—and attract new entrants such as Virgin or Trenitalia to the cross-Channel market. For now, Eurostar and DB aim to finalise a business case by late 2026, order rolling-stock in 2027 and start services “early in the next decade” if all permissions are secured.
