Eurostar, SBB and SNCF Voyageurs have signed a new agreement supporting plans for future direct rail services between London and Switzerland.
Eurostar, Swiss Federal Railways and SNCF Voyageurs have signed a memorandum of understanding supporting plans for potential direct rail services between London and Switzerland.
The agreement represents a major step in long-term efforts to establish new cross-border rail connections linking the United Kingdom with key Swiss destinations, including Zurich, Basel and Geneva.
Rail operators develop plans for future London-Switzerland connections
The project follows a wider cooperation agreement signed in March between SBB and SNCF Voyageurs aimed at strengthening collaboration and developing future international routes.
According to the three rail operators, demand for direct rail services between Switzerland and London remains strong. London is currently the largest air travel destination from Switzerland, while customer demand for a direct rail alternative continues to increase.
Initial studies suggest journey times could take around five hours between London and Basel, five and a half hours between London and Geneva and approximately six hours between London and Zurich.
The proposed services would operate through France, building on existing operational partnerships between SNCF Voyageurs and SBB as well as Eurostar’s more than 30 years of experience operating Channel Tunnel services between the UK and continental Europe.
The memorandum of understanding will allow the companies to begin analysing potential operational concepts, train paths and timetable options for future services.
Several challenges still need to be addressed before the routes can become operational, including border and entry arrangements, infrastructure requirements, intergovernmental agreements and availability of suitable rolling stock.
The partners stated that implementation would not be possible before the 2030s.
The latest development also follows a separate memorandum signed in London during May 2025 between Swiss Federal Councillor Albert Rösti and UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander supporting further studies into direct rail links.
The proposed routes highlight growing interest in expanding international high-speed rail services as operators seek sustainable alternatives to short-haul air travel across Europe.
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