New Eurostar service London to Amsterdam soon, and to Frankfurt in maybe 3 years

High-speed trains from London to Frankfurt could be launched in the next 3 years (or may be more) helping the UK maintain links to mainland Europe post-Brexit. German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has announced plans to run direct trains between London St Pancras and Frankfurt as early as 2020. The new service would complete the 400-mile journey through the Channel tunnel in 5 hours.  Deutsche Bahn was given permission to build the direct line in 2013, but plans were halted due to a lack of high-speed trains. The trains are still behind schedule, and this is delaying launch of the route. When more trains are delivered, Deutsche Bahn will prioritise routes from Frankfurt to Belgium and northern France, before the UK (which will by then have left the EU).  A new chief executive of Deutsche Bahn is to be announced before long, and progress on the London to Frankfurt route may progress once he/she is appointed.  In November 2016 it was announced that Eurostar is pressing ahead with plans for direct services between London and Amsterdam, despite a drop in passenger numbers. Eurostar said plans for the new route were “progressing well”  and might start by the end of 2017? The new service would provide a rival to airlines transporting 3 million people a year from London to Holland.
.

 

 

High-speed London to Frankfurt train service ‘to launch within three years’

By CHLOE CHAPLAIN (Standard)

1.3.2017

High-speed trains from London to Frankfurt could be launched in the next three years helping the UK maintain links to mainland Europe post-Brexit.

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has announced plans to run direct trains between London St Pancras and the German finance capital as early as 2020, The Times reported.

The new service, which would complete the 400-mile journey through the Channel tunnel in five hours, would be launched as Britain pulls out of the European Union.

The rail operator was given permission to build the direct line back in 2013 but plans were halted due to a lack of high-speed trains.

A spokesman for the company said the trains were still behind schedule and it is waiting on more stock before launching the line.

And, following the delivery of more trains, Deutsche Bahn will prioritise routes to Belgium and northern France before the UK.

But Jacques Gounon, the chairman of Eurotunnel, said he is “quite sure” the re-launch of the proposals will take place in the next decade.

He said he is waiting for the new chief executive of Deutsche Bahn to be announced before commencing talks – following Rüdiger Grub’s resignation in January.

“I am waiting for his appointment in order to meet him to re-launch the Frankfurt toLondon routes through Deutsche Bahn, but it will take time,” he told The Times.

“It is something like two to three years, so we are dealing with 2020 and beyond that.

“I am quite sure that it will happen but it takes time of course.”

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/highspeed-london-to-frankfurt-train-service-to-launch-within-three-years-a3479571.html

.


London to Frankfurt express trains by 2020

By Graeme Paton, (Transport Correspondent, The Times)
March 2 2017,

Direct trains could run between London and Frankfurt within three years under plans to maintain Britain’s post-Brexit links to Europe, The Times has learnt.

Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s state rail operator, is resurrecting proposals to run high-speed trains through the Channel tunnel just as Britain pulls out of the EU.

Jacques Gounon, the chairman of Eurotunnel, said he was “quite sure” direct services would be introduced early in the next decade, and hoped they could start as soon as 2020.

The 400-mile journey linking London St Pancras with the most powerful financial centre in mainland Europe would take about five hours. Eurostar, the cross-Channel rail operator, already plans to introduce a direct route to Amsterdam this autumn.

Deutsche Bahn received a licence to run services to Frankfurt in 2013 but proposals were suspended pending the delivery of a fleet of high-speed trains. The company will prioritise the introduction of new routes to Belgium and northern France before the UK. A spokesman said the trains were behind schedule. “We still do not have the rolling stock to operate the line,” he said. “Having the trains running with the Belgian and French systems is a prerequisite to move on with our plans for the London service. The economic efficiency of the service has to be ensured.”

Mr Gounon told The Times that he was awaiting talks with Deutsche Bahn after the resignation of Rüdiger Grube as chief executive in January. His successor has yet to be named.

“I am waiting for his appointment in order to meet him to re-launch the Frankfurt to London routes through Deutsche Bahn, but it will take time,” he said. “It is something like two to three years, so we are dealing with 2020 and beyond that. I am quite sure that it will happen but it takes time of course.”

The comments were made as Liam Fox, the trade secretary, implored Germany not to punish Britain by erecting trade barriers after Brexit, warning that it would be “politically irresponsible” and “economically dangerous”.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/london-to-frankfurt-express-trains-by-2020-0tqhstpl9?

.


Eurostar to run direct London to Amsterdam trains despite drop in passenger numbers

By JOHN DUNNE (Evening Standard)

4.11.2016

.
Eurostar is pressing ahead with plans for direct services between London and Amsterdam despite a drop in passenger numbers.

The operators of the cross-Channel high-speed rail service suffered a 10% year-on-year decline in passenger numbers during the third quarter but said plans for the new route were “progressing well.”

The new service would provide a rival to airlines transporting 3 million people a year from London to Holland.

Chief Executive Nicolas Petrovic said Eurostar was making a “major investment” in its fleet, service and stations to equip the business for expansion.

“The launch of our Amsterdam route at the end of next year marks a key milestone and represents a significant growth opportunity for the future,” he told the Financial Times.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/eurostar-to-offer-direct-london-to-amsterdam-trains-despite-passenger-fall-a3386921.html


 

 

High-speed London to Frankfurt train service ‘to launch within three years’

By CHLOE CHAPLAIN (Evening Standard)

2.3.2017

High-speed trains from London to Frankfurt could be launched in the next three years helping the UK maintain links to mainland Europe post-Brexit.

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn has announced plans to run direct trains between London St Pancras and the German finance capital as early as 2020, The Times reported.

The new service, which would complete the 400-mile journey through the Channel tunnel in five hours, would be launched as Britain pulls out of the European Union.

The rail operator was given permission to build the direct line back in 2013 but plans were halted due to a lack of high-speed trains.

A spokesman for the company said the trains were still behind schedule and it is waiting on more stock before launching the line.

And, following the delivery of more trains, Deutsche Bahn will prioritise routes to Belgium and northern France before the UK.

But Jacques Gounon, the chairman of Eurotunnel, said he is “quite sure” the re-launch of the proposals will take place in the next decade.

He said he is waiting for the new chief executive of Deutsche Bahn to be announced before commencing talks – following Rüdiger Grub’s resignation in January.

“I am waiting for his appointment in order to meet him to re-launch the Frankfurt toLondon routes through Deutsche Bahn, but it will take time,” he told The Times.

“It is something like two to three years, so we are dealing with 2020 and beyond that.

“I am quite sure that it will happen but it takes time of course.”

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/highspeed-london-to-frankfurt-train-service-to-launch-within-three-years-a3479571.html

.


London to Frankfurt express trains by 2020

By Graeme Paton, (Transport Correspondent, The Times)
March 2 2017,

Direct trains could run between London and Frankfurt within three years under plans to maintain Britain’s post-Brexit links to Europe, The Times has learnt.

Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s state rail operator, is resurrecting proposals to run high-speed trains through the Channel tunnel just as Britain pulls out of the EU.

Jacques Gounon, the chairman of Eurotunnel, said he was “quite sure” direct services would be introduced early in the next decade, and hoped they could start as soon as 2020.

The 400-mile journey linking London St Pancras with the most powerful financial centre in mainland Europe would take about five hours. Eurostar, the cross-Channel rail operator, already plans to introduce a direct route to Amsterdam this autumn.

Deutsche Bahn received a licence to run services to Frankfurt in 2013 but proposals were suspended pending the delivery of a fleet of high-speed trains. The company will prioritise the introduction of new routes to Belgium and northern France before the UK. A spokesman said the trains were behind schedule. “We still do not have the rolling stock to operate the line,” he said. “Having the trains running with the Belgian and French systems is a prerequisite to move on with our plans for the London service. The economic efficiency of the service has to be ensured.”

Mr Gounon told The Times that he was awaiting talks with Deutsche Bahn after the resignation of Rüdiger Grube as chief executive in January. His successor has yet to be named.

“I am waiting for his appointment in order to meet him to re-launch the Frankfurt to London routes through Deutsche Bahn, but it will take time,” he said. “It is something like two to three years, so we are dealing with 2020 and beyond that. I am quite sure that it will happen but it takes time of course.”

The comments were made as Liam Fox, the trade secretary, implored Germany not to punish Britain by erecting trade barriers after Brexit, warning that it would be “politically irresponsible” and “economically dangerous”.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/london-to-frankfurt-express-trains-by-2020-0tqhstpl9?

.


Eurostar to run direct London to Amsterdam trains despite drop in passenger numbers

By JOHN DUNNE (Evening Standard)

4.11.2017
Eurostar is pressing ahead with plans for direct services between London and Amsterdam despite a drop in passenger numbers.

The operators of the cross-Channel high-speed rail service suffered a 10 per cent year-on-year decline in passenger numbers during the third quarter but said plans for the new route were “progressing well.”

The new service would provide a rival to airlines transporting 3 million people a year from London to Holland.

Chief Executive Nicolas Petrovic said Eurostar was making a “major investment” in its fleet, service and stations to equip the business for expansion.

“The launch of our Amsterdam route at the end of next year marks a key milestone and represents a significant growth opportunity for the future,” he told the Financial Times.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/eurostar-to-offer-direct-london-to-amsterdam-trains-despite-passenger-fall-a3386921.html

.

.