A new service could welcome direct trains from London to major German cities, making it even easier to explore Europe and visit their famed Christmas markets
Proposals for a fresh high-speed rail link connecting Britain and Germany could make future festive market getaways simpler than ever before.
At present, Brits hoping to reach Cologne or Frankfurt via Eurostar must change trains at either Brussels or Paris, turning the journey into a several-hour trek fraught with the hassle of switching services. But direct trains between these destinations are now “one step closer” to reality, following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed this week between Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany’s national railway operator.
This development could see high-speed links between London and key German cities operational as soon as 2030. The service would deploy Eurostar’s new double-decker Celestia fleet, which offers significantly increased passenger capacity along the route, reports the Express.
Suggested itineraries include a direct London to Cologne service that takes four hours, and a London to Frankfurt connection completed in five hours, providing a swift and comfortable alternative to air travel. In a statement, Keir Starmer said: “This brings us one step closer to a new rail link that will put Britain at the heart of a better-connected Europe and paves the way for increased trade, tourism and investment.”
A direct service would allow Brits to access beloved destinations such as Germany’s famous Christmas markets more easily, without requiring air travel. Frankfurt Christmas Market, one of the oldest in the country and a favourite among tourists, dazzles with its half-timbered buildings in Römerberg and Paulsplatz town squares, adorned with festive lights.
Alongside the main market, smaller themed markets operate during Advent, including the Frankfurt Artists’ Christmas Market and the new Frankfurt Children’s Christmas Market, featuring trees decorated by children, storytelling tents, entertainment, and child-friendly food.
Cologne, with its multiple Christmas markets spread across the city, would undoubtedly become a popular destination for Brits given a direct Eurostar link. The Cologne Cathedral Market, located in Roncalliplatz, offers a traditional German market experience and is the most frequented.
The Harbour Christmas Market also attracts many visitors, boasting a massive Ferris wheel that provides panoramic views of the Rhine.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Eurostar plans to introduce direct services from London to Geneva, connecting the British capital with one of Switzerland’s key financial centres. The BBC reported over the summer that this new link could reduce travel time between London and Geneva to just five hours.
However, concerns were raised about whether Eurostar’s East London depot had sufficient space to accommodate the larger trains needed for such continental journeys.
Eurostar is also facing fresh competition from rival operators keen to launch UK-to-Europe rail services, including Virgin, which revealed in October that it was “on track” to introduce its own Channel Tunnel operation. The competing service plans to link London St Pancras International with Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam by 2030, with ambitions to extend to additional European destinations thereafter.
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