Deutsche Bahn and Eurostar have taken a significant step towatrds establishing a direct high-speed link between Germany and London in the United Kingdom, revealing in a joint press release on Thursday 4 December 2025 that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore a shared long-distance service connecting London with major German cities such as Cologne and Frankfurt.

Under the agreement, Eurostar will contribute its experience operating through the Channel Tunnel, while DB will provide its strengths as Germany’s national rail network operator. The plan is to launch the service in the early 2030s using Eurostar’s new double-deck Celestia trains, though the project depends on clearing substantial technical, operational, and legal hurdles before it can begin.

Michael Peterson, DB’s Board Member for Long-Distance Passenger Transport, said that Europe is “growing ever closer together by rail”, adding that the partnership with Eurostar could bring Germany and the United Kingdom “closer together at high speed”. He acknowledged the potential of the project, while emphasising that cross-border services are complex endeavours that generally require international cooperation.

Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave hailed the partnership as a “major step” towards easier and more sustainable travel between London and Germany. She pointed to Eurostar’s Channel Tunnel expertise, its new train fleet, and DB’s strong German network as the foundations of a new era of connectivity and comfort, and reiterated the company’s goal of carrying 30 million passengers across its network.

Germany’s Federal Transport Minister, Patrick Schnieder, described the initiative as a strong message for Europe’s railway future. He noted that a dedicated task force has already been preparing the legal, infrastructural, and political framework required for the service, and expressed confidence that rail passengers across Europe will benefit once the connection is realised. 

The UK Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said the project could transform cross-border rail for generations, offering economic benefits, stronger trade links, and a more environmentally friendly alternative for international travel.

Wait a minute

Independent railway commentator Jon Worth, writing on Mastodon, urged caution amid the optimism. 

Responding to excitement that DB would finally be running trains from Germany to London, he noted that the announcement concerns a Memorandum of Understanding rather than a confirmed service. 

The earliest possible launch date aligns with the introduction of Eurostar’s new fleet, which, as Worth pointed out, is itself fraught with complications. 

He highlighted longstanding concerns that the Avelia Horizon trains Eurostar has ordered may not comply with the Channel Tunnel’s stringent evacuation requirements and questioned whether Eurostar has even ordered enough new trains to replace its ageing fleet. He also remarked on the continued insistence that Eurostar will reach 30 million passengers despite these constraints.

Worth further questioned whether Deutsche Bahn has suitable rolling stock of its own, noting that the Siemens ICE 3neo trains would theoretically work but lack the TVM430 signalling required in France. The French authorities are not expected to install the modern European ETCS signalling system on the high-speed line to the Channel Tunnel until the mid-2030s, meaning DB trains cannot realistically operate the route in the near future.

Stations

He also raised concerns about station logistics in Germany. While Frankfurt Main Station could potentially accommodate a 200-metre train and the necessary border-control facilities, Cologne Main Station is, in his view, effectively unworkable due to congestion and platform layout. 

Worth suggested that Cologne/Bonn Airport or Horrem would be more realistic options for a German terminal if the route is to include the Cologne region. He directed readers to his detailed report on the subject, arguing that many early reactions to the announcement simply repeated DB’s statements without considering the practical challenges.

Political support

DB and Eurostar have underlined the strong political support for the project, pointing to the Treaty of Friendship and Bilateral Cooperation signed on 17 July by the German Chancellor and the British Prime Minister. 

As part of the treaty, both governments have established a task force to address the political and regulatory issues standing in the way of a direct connection, including entry procedures, infrastructure requirements, and intergovernmental agreements.

Against this backdrop of optimism, ambition, and scepticism, Worth summarised the situation with cautious hope: trains between Germany and London are conceivable, early 2030s is possible, Eurostar’s new trains may be used, DB’s may not, and despite the many obstacles, the project is not impossible.

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