Such direct services would mean reaching Cologne in four hours, and Frankfurt in less than five from the capital city. <\/p>\n
At present, rail passengers have to change trains in Brussels to reach those cities. It takes at least five-and-a-half hours to reach Frankfurt, and four-and-a-quarter hours to arrive in Cologne.<\/p>\n
![\"Cologne](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/skynews-cologne-train_7101182.jpg\")
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Image:
\n Cologne Central Station could soon be served by trains from the UK. Pic: AP<\/p>\n
The proposed services would use existing lines and infrastructure. Passengers would board a double-decker Eurostar in London, and be spared a change of trains on the continent.<\/p>\n
The ambition to create such links had already been announced<\/strong><\/a>, as had a plan to allow direct rail travel from London to Geneva, but the partnership between DB and Eurostar had not.<\/p>\n Will it definitely happen?<\/strong><\/p>\n Details and technicalities are yet to be worked out, with the German train company highlighting that any services are contingent upon “the necessary technical, operational, and legal prerequisites being met”.<\/p>\n “Implementation by individual railway companies is considered extremely difficult,” DB said.<\/p>\n “Joint partnerships are therefore crucial.”<\/p>\n What about Berlin?<\/strong><\/p>\n Nothing was announced for a direct service to Berlin on Thursday, despite Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander singling out the benefits and prospect of journeys from London to the German capital in July.<\/p>\n “The Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie – in just a matter of years, rail passengers in the UK could be able to visit these iconic sights direct from the comfort of a train, thanks to a direct connection linking London and Berlin,” she said at the time.<\/p>\n Image: Shorter journeys, like those to Frankfurt and Cologne, are seen as more commercially viable than the current 10-hour train journey time to Berlin.<\/p>\n Market studies conducted by Eurostar found travellers are comfortable with international rail journeys of up to six hours.<\/p>\n “Our research indicates that many would choose rail over air for trips within this timeframe,” Eurostar told Sky News. “This, combined with strong business and leisure demand on this route, is why we have prioritised London to Frankfurt.”<\/p>\n Read more from Sky News:![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/skynews-eurostar-train_6937867.jpg\")
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\n A high-speed Eurostar train heading towards France. File pic: PA<\/p>\n
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