A rather monumental step chug has just been taken in the direction of a smooth, speedy and seamless new train link that would directly connect London with the stunning scenery of Switzerland. The Department for Transport announced last week that a memorandum of understanding had been signed by the UK and Swiss governments, and the wheels of this handy new rail-route had officially been set in motion.
Passengers who currently wish to travel by train from London to the likes of Geneva, Zurich and Basel have to do so via a rather pesky pitstop in Paris. This new and direct service would cut out the middle man and significantly shorten the journey in total. A trip on the train from London to Geneva, for example, currently takes around 7 and a half hours. The direct rail-route would reduce the journey to around 5 hours, making it a far more worthy competitor to air-travel. A flight from London to Geneva takes just under 2 hours, but once you factor in airport travel and security times; a five hour train journey could give this (far less sustainable) option a run for its money.
The recently signed agreement came after the UK’s Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, met with the Swiss Transport Minister, Albert Rosti. Discussions have been sparked to address the obstacles that are currently standing in the way of this new rail connection. And the next steps will be finding solutions to the challenges surrounding border controls and safety regulations. Stations in Geneva, Zurich and Basel could all potentially welcome trains from London, but border control facilities would need to be fitted in order to do so.
A group of government and industry experts from both the UK and Switzerland will now be formed and their first meeting is set to be held in the coming months. And although no official timeline has yet been outlined, Albert Rosti said that the new train link could launch in the next 5 to 10 years.
UK Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: “A direct rail link between the UK and Switzerland has the potential to boost tourism, grow our economy and bring people closer together – all while offering a greener option for passengers.”
Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive of London St Pancras Highspeed (who own St Pancras International station and the high-speed line to the Channel Tunnel), said: “This exciting announcement brings us one step closer to direct high-speed services between London and Switzerland, building on the preliminary work already undertaken to ensure that station access and routes are in place to make this a reality.”