Plans for direct, high-speed train journeys from the United Kingdom to Germany have advanced significantly, the Department for Transport has confirmed. A new partnership between Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn (DB) has laid the groundwork for future services connecting London with major German cities.
Faster Links to Cologne and Frankfurt
The collaboration, announced on Thursday 4 December 2025, means the companies are actively exploring options to launch direct routes from London to both Cologne and Frankfurt. This development marks a concrete step beyond previous ambitions.
Passengers could reach Cologne in just four hours and Frankfurt in under five hours from the British capital, a notable improvement on current travel times. At present, rail travellers must change trains in Brussels, with journeys taking at least four hours and fifteen minutes to Cologne and five and a half hours to Frankfurt.
The proposed services would utilise existing rail lines and infrastructure. Travellers would board one of Eurostar's new double-decker Celestia trains in London and enjoy a seamless, single-train journey to their destination in Germany, eliminating the need to change on the continent.
Why Berlin is Not Yet on the Route Map
Despite the progress, no plans for a direct London-to-Berlin service were announced. This is despite Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander highlighting the potential benefits of such a route in July 2025, picturing visits to the Brandenburg Gate and Berlin Wall via a direct train.
The decision is primarily commercial. Shorter journeys to cities like Frankfurt and Cologne are viewed as more viable than the current estimated 10-hour trip to Berlin. Market research conducted by Eurostar indicates that travellers are generally comfortable with international rail journeys lasting up to six hours.
"Our research indicates that many would choose rail over air for trips within this timeframe," a Eurostar spokesperson stated. "This, combined with strong business and leisure demand on this route, is why we have prioritised London to Frankfurt."
Next Steps and Future Potential
While the foundation is set, the companies caution that several hurdles remain. Deutsche Bahn emphasised that any new services depend on "the necessary technical, operational, and legal prerequisites being met." They noted that implementation by a single railway company is extremely difficult, making partnerships like this one crucial.
The UK Department for Transport stated that the focus on Frankfurt and Cologne was a commercial decision by the rail operators. However, the UK-Germany rail taskforce, established in the summer of 2025, could pave the way for announcements on additional routes in the future.
This development follows earlier announcements about ambitions for direct rail travel from London to Geneva, signalling a continued push to expand the UK's high-speed rail connectivity deep into Europe.
