Gemini Trains in the United Kingdom has revealed ambitious plans to launch high-speed rail services beneath the Channel Tunnel from Stratford International in east London.
In a recent submission to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the company outlined intentions to operate a fleet of ten trains, targeting destinations such as Paris and Lille in France, Brusselsin Belgium, and and eventually Cologne in Germany, under the brand Uber Trains, in partnership with ride-hailing giant Uber.
Gemini’s choice of Stratford International as its London terminus marks a strategic departure from conventional routes. Initially built with passport control and customs facilities, Stratford has never hosted scheduled Eurostar services.
Gemini CEO Adrian Quine argues that the station, now well connected via the Elizabeth Line, Underground, Overground, and National Rail, is better positioned to serve eastern London and its growing urban precincts.
He emphasised that the Elizabeth Line places central London just ten minutes away and Paddington within 20 minutes, while planned connections to HS2 at Old Oak Common will further reduce journey times. Moreover, Gemini intends to reopen Ebbsfleet International, which has lain dormant for Eurostar passengers since 2020, as a parkway stop well connected by road and offering extensive parking.
According to Gemini, East London and the southeast could gain access to continental services without needing to travel into central London—a potential catchment of up to 18 million people.
The Uber partnership will see the rolling stock co-branded, with tickets sold through the Uber app, delivering streamlined booking and integrated mobility service similar to Uber’s collaboration with the Thames Clippers. While Uber will provide the branding and ticket platform, operations remain the responsibility of Gemini.
Rolling stock
Notably, Gemini has yet to secure funding, rolling stock suppliers, or regulatory approval. Targeting a launch around 2029–2030, the company has also applied for access to the Eurostar-controlled Temple Mills maintenance depot in East London.
Industry observers note that achieving the necessary infrastructure upgrades—passport control, security, platform capacity—at Stratford poses a significant challenge.
Rail commentator Jon Worth has expressed scepticism, citing the station’s track layout and outdated platforms as serious obstacles to making it a viable terminus.
Gemini enters a competitive field alongside other challengers to Eurostar’s Channel Tunnel monopoly.
These include Virgin Trains, backed by Richard Branson, and Italian state railway company Trenitalia. Gemini’s unique strategy—featuring Uber’s brand recognition, a novel terminus at Stratford, and a reactivated Ebbsfleet—sets it apart, though the absence of concrete assets and regulatory certainty means the proposal remains speculative.
Channel Tunnel updates
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- CHANNEL TUNNEL | Uber Trains-branded Gemini Trains plan London-Brussels and London-Paris route via Stratford.
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- Competition for Eurostar? Temple Mills International Depot has space for competitor’s trains.
- London St Pancras Highspeed and Getlink aspire to to triple train services to France, Belgium and the Netherlands and add services to Germany and Switzerland.
- Heuro wants to operate high speeds trains between Amsterdam, Antwerp, Brussels, Paris and London from 2028.
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