Eurostar, SBB and SNCF Voyageurs have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the introduction of direct rail services between London and Switzerland.
The agreement marks the latest step in discussions over a potential cross-border route linking the UK with Swiss cities including Zurich, Geneva and Basel. The project remains in the planning stage, with operations unlikely to begin before the 2030s.
UK Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, and Swiss Federal Councillor, Albert Rösti
© GOV.UK
The proposed services would build on a cooperation agreement signed by SBB and SNCF Voyageurs in March, aimed at expanding international rail connections across Europe. Eurostar, which operates passenger services through the Channel Tunnel, has now joined the partnership as discussions move towards timetable analysis and operational planning.
The demand for international rail travel continues to grow, particularly on routes currently dominated by short-haul flights. London is the largest flight destination from Switzerland, and rail operators believe there is demand for direct train services between the two countries.
Initial studies cited by the companies suggest that journey times of around five hours between London and Basel, five-and-a-half hours to Geneva, and six hours to Zurich could attract both leisure and business travellers seeking alternatives to air travel.
Any future service would run through France before crossing the Channel into the United Kingdom.
The operators have noted that several issues still need to be resolved before the route could become operational, including border and security arrangements, infrastructure requirements, access to suitable trains and the allocation of rail paths.
The plans also follow a memorandum signed in London in May 2025 between Swiss Federal Councillor Albert Rösti and UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander concerning future rail cooperation between the two countries.
SBB is continuing technical and operational studies on behalf of Switzerland’s Federal Office of Transport, while Eurostar and SNCF Voyageurs are assessing how the route could fit into their wider international expansion plans.
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