
Amidst all the chaos of the pandemic and Brexit, it’s easy to forget how fulfilling a quick city break to a European city you’ve never visited can be. While many opt for air travel on such a trip, the option of a faster, more environmentally friendly mode exists between certain cities. And now that may be about to expand.
New plans from Spanish state railway company Renfe outline their intentions to launch an alternative service between London and Paris, arguably the most-popular cross-country train route for people in the UK.

Since 1994, trains have run through the two cities through Eurostar, who also run services to cities including Amsterdam and Brussels. Renfe plan to take advantage of the millions of customers using the Eurotunnel route.
In a statement, the company said: “At the moment, there are available slots and capacity to operate on the high-speed line.

“This high-speed corridor has high traffic and was growing until Covid-19 – a trend that is set to recover next year. According to demand analysis, it would be viable and profitable for Renfe to compete with Eurostar.”
Perhaps even more excitingly is the potential second phase of plans Renfe are considering. This could see trains between the UK and more international cities, including an expansion to more French destinations. Moreover, speculation even includes the possibility of routes between Spain and the UK.
There is no date set for when the new service from Renfe would begin, should it go through. So for now, we’ll continue taking our usual Eurostar services, buoyed simply by the thrill of being able to travel across Europe once more following lockdown.