Latest news with #rail link
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Direct trains from UK to historical European city with €4 beers will be running soon
The United Kingdom and Germany have signed a landmark treaty that will pave the way for a direct rail link between London and Berlin. Dubbed The Kensington Treaty, the agreement is said to 'fundamentally change how millions of people travel', with hopes the rail link will be up and running by the early 2030s. The agreement marks a significant shift in relations between the two nations, and was sealed during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first official visit to the UK on 17 July. The signing ceremony took place at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington, alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. One of the deal's key elements, as outlined in the UK governments Plan for Change, is the commitment to establish a long-distance, direct passenger rail service between the two capitals, according to The Times. It would also provide a direct link between London and other major German cities, such as Frankfurt. A joint UK-Germany transport taskforce will now assess the infrastructure, border and security needs required to establish the route. The taskforce will also look into commercial and technical requirements, such as safety standards and the potential to collaborate with rail operators to make direct services a reality. The United Kingdom and Germany have signed a landmark treaty that will pave the way for a direct rail link between London and Berlin (Pictured: Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 17 July) Dubbed The Kensington Treaty, the agreement is said to 'fundamentally change how millions of people travel,' with hopes the rail link will be up and running by the early 2030s (Pictured: a train of the regional express line RE 1 to Eisenhüttenstadt) Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: 'We're pioneering a new era of European rail connectivity and are determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent. '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. 'This landmark agreement – part of a new treaty the Prime Minister will sign with Chancellor Merz today - has the potential to fundamentally change how millions of people travel between our two countries, offering a faster, more convenient and significantly greener alternative to flying.' Eurostar and other rail operators initially put expansion plans in serving on hold following the UK's departure from the EU due to the need to address logistical and operational challenges related to border controls and new regulations. While expansion was initially delayed, Eurostar has since announced plans to launch direct services to Frankfurt and Geneva in the early 2030s, and is also working on a direct route to Berlin. Meanwhile, passengers will have more choice of international train services through the Channel Tunnel, the rail regulator said - threatening Eurostar's 31-year monopoly. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) revealed it will allocate spare capacity at Eurostar's Temple Mills maintenance depot in Leyton, East London, to either one new operator or Eurostar itself, which has plans to grow. Several companies are developing plans to run passenger trains through the tunnel - rivalling Eurostar, which has held a monopoly since the infrastructure opened in 1994. The agreement marks a significant shift in relations between the two nations, and was sealed during German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first official visit to the UK on 17 July The signing ceremony took place at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington, alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer Organisations developing proposals for rival services include billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group; Italy's state-owned railway company FS Italiane Group; and Gemini Trains, which is chaired by Labour peer Lord Berkeley. Access to depot space for maintaining and storing trains is a critical requirement for new operators or Eurostar to boost services. It is the only UK site able to support trains that can be used in the Channel Tunnel and on tracks in continental Europe. However, the ORR also said it believes 'there is room for at most one new operator, or for Eurostar to grow' - meaning not all the rival services are likely to succeed. The regulator has urged applicants to submit detailed plans on how to allocate capacity. From London St Pancras, Eurostar currently serves Paris, Lille, Brussels, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, as well as running seasonal ski trains to the French Alps.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
The new direct train line set to connect the UK to a European city for the first time
THE Government has revealed plans for a new rail link between London and a new European country. The UK and Germany have joined forces to create a direct rail route to Berlin. 5 The new direct train would allow both Brits and Germans a flight-free way of getting to each country. For Brits, this meant they could be exploring the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie "in just a matter of years", according to Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander. The secretary added: "This landmark agreement – part of a new treaty the Prime Minister will sign with Chancellor Merz today - has the potential to fundamentally change how millions of people travel between our two countries, offering a faster, more convenient and significantly greener alternative to flying. "A new task force will bring our nations closer together and create new opportunities for tourism, business and cultural exchange, building on a landmark deal we signed earlier this year to explore introducing direct services to Switzerland." The plans are also set to give the UK a big economic boost, with the creation of jobs and strengthened trade links. Alexander added: "This is central to our Plan for Change – breaking down barriers, thinking boldly about the future, and making long-term decisions that better connect Britain to the world. "Working with Germany, we're building bridges between our people and paving the way for a more sustainable, connected future." It has not been made clear where the new train service would depart from in London. Currently, St Pancras International is the only London station that provides direct international passenger trains, including ones that connect to Germany - via a change in Brussels. This is due to St Pancras being the terminus for High Speed 1 (HS1) - the only high-speed rail line in the UK that connects to the Channel Tunnel. The Sun reviews business class travel on the Eurostar 5 Berlin is known for its vibrant culture and top class beer, which includes Prater Garten, the city's oldest beer garden having first opened in 1837. Currently, St Pancras International is the only London station that provides direct international passenger train services, including those that connect (via a change in Brussels) to Germany. This is because St Pancras is the final station for High Speed 1 (HS1) - the only high-speed rail line in the UK that connects to the Channel Tunnel on the UK side. However, Stratford International and Ebbsfleet International stations both sit on the HS1 line. In theory, both of these places could handle international services. However, the Eurostar - which is the main operator through the Channel Tunnel - has not served these stations since the Covid-19 pandemic. 5 Eurostar has also announced plans to create direct trains from London to Frankfurt in Germany and Geneva in Switzerland in the early 2030s - which would still likely depart from St Pancras International. A new high-speed line known as High Speed 2 (HS2) is under construction in the UK. Whilst the line will primarily be used for travel within the UK, such as linking London to the West Midlands, there have been some discussions about a link between HS1 and HS2. If this link were to be built, it could allow for direct international services from other parts of the UK via HS2. New European rail service A NEW European train service, launching next year, will connect Prague, Berlin, and Copenhagen, marking the first direct route between Prague and Copenhagen in a decade. Operated by Czech, German, and Danish rail companies, the service will primarily run twice daily. The journey from Prague to Copenhagen will take around 11hours - a duration expected to decrease with the completion of the Fehmarn Belt Undersea Tunnel. Onboard, passengers can enjoy a dining car, a children's cinema, and improved mobile signal. The ComfortJet trains will also offer space for bikes and be wheelchair accessible. This initiative is one of 10 pilot projects supported by the European Commission to enhance cross-border rail travel. The construction of HS2 is also behind schedule and the Government confirmed in June that the completion of the line would now be delayed beyond the target date of 2033. Plus, a gamechanger new budget train line is to launch from London next year.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Witney rail line resurrection 'economically viable'
A rail link from Oxford to the west of the county would be "economically viable", a study commissioned by a local authority has study, sanctioned by West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC), investigated the potential benefits of reinstating a rail link between Carterton, Witney, Eynsham and found that the rail scheme could "offer high value for money when wider benefits to the economy, environment and public health are included".The government previously said there were "significant challenges" with the project, particularly around cost - reported to be about £600m. Councillor Hugo Ashton, WODC's planning chief, said the study had shown that a rail connection "wouldn't just improve how people travel; it could transform how we grow as a district"."It makes a strong case for including rail as part of a long-term, joined-up plan and also shows that it is economically viable," he said."From unlocking new housing to boosting access to jobs, essential services, education, and reducing congestion and carbon emissions, the benefits would be wide-reaching and underline why sustainable transport must be at the heart of our plans for the future." The study found the proposed new railway line could help reduce congestion on the A40 - which is the main route for drivers travelling to and from the said the new line could also support population growth and help west Oxfordshire progress towards its net zero carbon added that the benefits were estimated to be "more than double the cost of the scheme".Witney's Liberal Democrat MP, Charlie Maynard, previously told a Westminster debate that the proposed line could cut journey times by up to 70%.Trains ran between Oxford and Witney until 1962, when the line was shut as part of a swathe of closures across the then, various suggestions to ease traffic on the A40 and make travel between the two easier- including plans for a guided transit expressway proposed more than two decades ago - have fallen by the wayside. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Direct East Sussex-London train to be reinstated
A rail link between two East Sussex towns and London discontinued during the pandemic is being brought back, a train company has announced. Govia Thameslink Railway said from December a direct train will run in the morning between Eastbourne, Lewes and London Bridge and return in the evening, after calls by service, which will run Monday to Thursday, is set to make commuting to the capital "much easier", the rail operator said. Eastbourne MP Josh Babarinde - making the announcement alongside Thamelink - said he had campaigned for direct train service to be restored following its withdrawal in 2020. The Liberal Democrat, who took a giant ticket-shaped petition to Eastbourne station while campaigning, said the change would have a "positive impact" on the town."This is a huge victory," he added. Thameslink said the Covid pandemic had had a "devastating impact" on the rail industry. Jenny Saunders, Thameslink customer services director, said the company was doing everything it could do to encourage people back to using rail services, which it called the "most sustainable form of public transport". The new Monday to Thursday service will depart from Eastbourne at 06:48, arriving at London Bridge for 08:25. The return service will leave London Bridge at 17:03 and reach Eastbourne at 18:34.
