Eurotunnel and London St. Pancras Highspeed have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen and expand high-speed rail services between Great Britain and major cities across continental Europe.
This strategic collaboration aims to develop new high-speed rail connections from London, enhancing coordination between infrastructure networks and supporting the creation of new international rail routes. The partnership will focus on engineering and innovation expertise to boost accessibility and increase the use of rail as a preferred transport mode across Europe.
A recent capacity study conducted by London St. Pancras Highspeed revealed that high-speed services departing the British capital could accommodate up to 5,000 passengers per hour—highlighting significant potential for growth.
The initiative aligns with Getlink’s growth strategy, announced in December 2023, which aims to double the number of direct destinations reachable via the Channel Tunnel within the next decade. Market research by Eurotunnel has identified strong demand for direct high-speed services from London to cities such as Cologne, Frankfurt, Geneva, and Basel.
To support rail operators in launching these new services, Getlink has revised its ETICA financial aid programme. For the 2025–2030 period, the programme will provide €50 million in funding to facilitate the development of new international high-speed routes.
This agreement marks a shared commitment to expanding low-carbon, fast, and seamless rail travel between the UK and the rest of Europe, supporting sustainable mobility and improving international connectivity.
