On the Horizon: Direct Trains to London and Beyond - Exploring the Unbounded Rail Network
Exploring cross-border train travel: Assessing the degree of border-free railway journeys. - Exploring Cross-border Train Journeys - What are the Boundaries of such Travel?
Ever dreamt of jumping on a train in Frankfurt, Paris, or Amsterdam and waking up in London? Well, it might not be too far-fetched.
German Railways (Deutsche Bahn), in partnership with other European railways, has been making strides in expanding its transcontinental offerings. And guess what? London could be the next big addition to this ever-growing network.
But just how robust is the international train offer from Deutsche Bahn? What about those routes less traveled? Let's explore.
The rail network connecting major European cities is still a work in progress. Unfortunately, we're far from a seamless European rail network that seamlessly transfers passengers from Paris to Rome, or Madrid to Brussels.
Former rail CEO Hartmut Mehdorn once said, "Train journeys over four hours are a torture." But times have changed, and passengers seem to disagree. If you thought eight hours of train travel to reach Paris from Berlin was an ordeal a decade ago, think again! According to railway figures, an occupancy rate of 90 percent for this route isn't uncommon.
There's a growing trend in longer cross-border connections, with new routes popping up all over Europe. With growth in mind, Deutsche Bahn has seen a whopping 5% increase in travel on routes four hours and longer! The connections between Berlin and Krakow (7 hours) and Hamburg-Kopenhagen (4.45 hours) have shown impressive growth of almost 30% and 19%, respectively.
So, how about near-five-hour trains from Frankfurta to London instead of the current transfers and six and a half hours of travel time? Eurostar plans to up its game on connections to Germany and Switzerland in the early 2030s, making it a reality. Whether these plans come to fruition remains uncertain, though. Much like the former rail chief Rüdiger Grube's announcement in 2010 about ICE trains connecting Frankfurt and Amsterdam with London by the end of 2013.
It's not just about Frankfurt and London, though. Collaboration with Italian Trenitalia and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is on the cards, with new direct connections from Munich to Milan and Rome starting from the end of 2026. But cross-border rail traffic still has a ways to go, with delays in expanding infrastructure being a significant hurdle.
Connectivity within Germany's neighboring countries is relatively strong for both long-distance and regional trains in "cross-border traffic." But routes that extend beyond the borders, like to Spain, Sweden, the Baltic countries, or Croatia, still need attention. Italy and Hungary, however, are exceptions.
Today, you can take the train from Munich to Bolzano, Verona, Venice, as well as Rimini and Ancona on the Adriatic coast. The travel time between Munich and Rimini is approximately eight hours. And if you're up for a longer adventure, you can reach Budapest from Hamburg via Berlin and Dresden in about 14 hours.
With growing demand for international rail travel in Europe, the early 2030s could see significant changes, making rail travel more accessible and hassle-free. As Eurostar invests in new trains and routes, we can look forward to even more direct connections across the continent.
[1] en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurostar_(company)[2] faq.eurostar.com/raw/72684/What-is-Eurostar%3F.html[3] www.eurostar.com/us-en/travel/cities[4] www.eurostar.com/us-en/travel/destinations[5] carbonbrief.org/eurostar-and-cross-channel-rail-how-electrification-and-low-carbon-travel-could-reduce-aviation-emissions
- The expansion of Deutsche Bahn's transcontinental offerings is not limited to major cities; they are exploring new routes, such as direct trains from Frankfurt to London in the future.
- Vocational training and funding initiatives for rail industry workers could ease the challenges of expanding infrastructure and improving services in public-transit systems, enabling smoother cross-border rail travel.
- Lifestyle options that prioritize sustainable travel, such as automotive alternatives like electric vehicles and bicycles, could complement the growth of long-distance rail travel and reduce reliance on air travel for certain routes.
- With growing interest in travel across Europe, financial investments in upgrading train infrastructure and enhancing services could lead to an increase in passenger demand for vocational training programs in the transportation industry, fostering a more robust and interconnected European rail network.
