It’s relatively easy to get to Switzerland from the UK by rail. The only snag is a long time-consuming interchange in Paris. If talks between the Swiss and British governments to create a direct rail link from St Pancras International to Geneva are successful, the route will become seamless.
Transport secretary Heidi Alexander signed a “landmark” memorandum of understanding to take this initiative forward. The Department of Transport says the move will promote co-operation between the two governments, “building on industry efforts to address the barriers to establishing direct rail services, in particular the need to establish border controls and meet Channel Tunnel safety rules.”
Industry and government experts from both countries will come together to find ways to overcome “commercial and technical barriers” to launching a direct service by 2030.
The current journey from London St Pancras to Switzerland (Geneva, Zurich, Basel, or Lausanne) includes a train change in Paris, and the journey takes around seven and a half hours. If the new plan for a direct train ride goes ahead, the journey will take just five hours.
Eurostar is currently the only operator of high-speed rail services from London to the continent, but there have been challengers, including Virgin, who, if successful, would break the monopoly.
Robert Sinclair, chief executive of London St Pancras Highspeed, said: “We strongly welcome the UK and Swiss governments’ active cooperation to create a sustainable international rail border arrangement between the two countries.
“This exciting announcement brings us one step closer to direct high-speed services between London and Switzerland, building on the preliminary work already undertaken to ensure that station access and routes are in place to make this a reality.
“London St Pancras Highspeed is enabling the growth of international high-speed rail services from London. As well as our ongoing work to expand capacity at St Pancras International, we recently launched a new international growth incentive scheme, which supports the launch of new destinations across Europe, including cities in Switzerland.
Eurostar chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave added: “Eurostar customers can now book their entire journey between London and Geneva, Zurich, Basel or Lausanne via Paris. This is a first step in a wider plan with our partners to grow connections in the greenest way.”