Eurostar routes enter a committed relationship with the early 2030s
New Eurostar routes could take passengers directly from London to Geneva and Frankfurt in the early 2030s. That period currently exists mainly in glossy presentations. It also lives in the eyes of children told their train has left the depot.
Eurostar plans to buy up to 50 new trains for the expansion. It calls this a serious investment in European rail. It also bets passengers will book seats before their aircraft version enters middle management.
The proposed direct routes would also connect Amsterdam and Brussels with Geneva. At last, travellers could cross Europe without changing trains. They would only need to change decade.
“Direct means no needless interruption,” said Mildred Timetable, Eurostar’s fictional Head of Forthcoming Certainty. “Our passengers deserve one seat from London to Switzerland. They must only live their entire lives first.”
Eurostar is adding more Amsterdam services this year. This offers a rare taste of rail progress within a reusable water bottle’s lifespan. The company says passenger growth and healthy finances made the plans possible. Even success now needs several years’ notice before it can arrive. It has solved the problem of changing trains. Now it asks passengers to change their expectations instead. This is a revolution in sitting still.
Airlines say flights to Geneva remain available immediately. Customers must still endure rules about liquids. Rail campaigners call that an unfair comparison. Aviation has had decades to perfect doing something before announcing it.
By the time the new Eurostar routes reach Geneva, British passengers will have demanded a direct service for years. Then they will say it was better before everyone could get one.
Read the real story: Eurostar’s announcement of its planned new routes.
