A new direct train route from London to Switzerland is in the works

A faster, more sustainable way to travel between the two countries is on track for development.

The modern rail renaissance is showing no signs of coming to a halt, with more travellers than ever seeking the more scenic and eco-friendly alternative to flying. An easier way to get from London to Switzerland is set to go full steam ahead as Eurostar announces the launch of a direct route between the two destinations.

Currently, the fastest rail journey from London St Pancras to Switzerland takes seven and a half hours via Paris Gare du Nord, changing to a TGV Lyria train to Zurich. The new direct route, run by Western Europe’s largest international high-speed rail network, will cut the travel time by more than an hour, allowing travellers to get to Basel within five hours and Zurich within six.

Eurostar currently operates in five countries. (Credit: Serge Cornu/Getty)

Eurostar currently connects 28 destinations across the UK, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. Last year, the rail company announced three new networks were in the pipeline: London-to-Frankfurt, London-to-Geneva and Amsterdam/Brussels-Geneva. The train company is investing €2 billion in 50 new trains.

The new London to Switzerland route is a direct response to the increased desire for more sustainable travel and the rapidly growing interest in Switzerland in the UK travel market. 

Once in Switzerland, travellers can embark on some of the most scenic train journeys in the world,  including the 8-hour Glacier Express journey from Zermatt to St Moritz.

When will tickets for the new route be bookable?

The new route will stop at Basel and Zurich. (Credit: Serge Cornu/Getty)

Ready to book your ticket? You might need to wait a little longer than expected as the new route is only in the planning stages. Eurostar have signed a ‘memorandum of understanding’ with the Swiss Federal Railways and French SNCF Voyageur, an informal agreement to the project before further plans are established and a contract is signed. 

Right now, Eurostar is predicting the new route won’t be up and running until the 2030s.