Eurostar plans to run direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Geneva starting in 2030. Both train journeys would take some five hours.
The high-speed train operator also plans to invest heavily in its fleet. The rail company will invest some 2 billion euros to boost the number of trains by 30%.
Pushed by competition plans
Eurostar’s high-speed trains, partly owned by the Belgian railroad company NMBS/SNCB, operate today in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The most popular route is between London and Paris.
However, the 28 destinations currently served by Eurostar will be expanded by several new destinations from 2030: Amsterdam-Brussels-Geneva, London-Frankfurt (also with a stop in Brussels), and London-Geneva.
Several other companies have previously said they are exploring the possibility of running trains through the Channel Tunnel. Currently, Eurostar is the only one carrying passengers through the tunnel.
30 to 50 new train units
The new Eurostar offering, however, will depend on the arrival of 30 to 50 new train units. These have not yet been ordered, but according to the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, the formal decision to purchase them has already been made (with a budget of between 1.5 and 2 billion euros). If negotiations with manufacturers go well, the order should be a reality by the end of the year.
Last year, Eurostar had 19,5 million travelers, up 5%. Revenue came to 2 billion euros, including 346 million euros in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, etc. Over time, Eurostar aims to reach 30 million passengers per year.
Last month, Eurostar announced plans to cut approximately 140 jobs, with 50 positions in Belgium and 90 in the United Kingdom. These would be exclusively office positions. Eurostar, which employs approximately 2,700 people, aims to offset job losses as much as possible through voluntary departures.
