A new operator has announced ambitious plans to launch direct high-speed rail services from London to Germany by 2030, in what could become the biggest expansion of cross-Channel rail travel since Eurostar began operating in 1994.
Gemini Trains, a British start-up backed by the investment firm Midia Partners, says it wants to introduce services from London St Pancras to Cologne, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, alongside trains to Paris, Disneyland Paris and Charles de Gaulle Airport.
If the plans come to fruition, they would offer skiers more rail options than ever before for reaching resorts in France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
More competition on the rails
For more than 30 years, Eurostar has been the only passenger operator through the Channel Tunnel. While it has expanded its network over the years, many destinations once served directly from London have disappeared, leaving travellers with fewer options and often higher fares.
Gemini believes there is significant unused capacity in the tunnel and says increased competition will encourage more people to choose rail over flying.
The company plans to lease eight high-speed electric trains, each carrying more than 550 passengers, with the aim of operating around 11 services a day by 2030. It hopes to offer introductory one-way fares to Paris from around £37, with journeys to Cologne taking about four hours.
Kent stations could return
One particularly interesting aspect of the proposal is the return of international services to Kent.
Gemini intends to stop at both Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International, stations that have seen no international passenger trains since Eurostar suspended services there during the pandemic in 2020.
Restoring these stops would make international rail much more accessible for travellers across south-east England, reducing the need to travel into central London before heading to the continent.
What does this mean for skiers?
While none of Gemini’s proposed destinations are ski resorts themselves, they would provide useful gateways into Europe’s rail network.
Direct trains to Frankfurt and Cologne would make onward connections to Austrian resorts such as Kitzbühel, St Anton and Zell am See easier. Services to Charles de Gaulle Airport could also improve access to French TGV services heading towards the Alps.
The proposal also comes at a time when demand for rail travel continues to grow. More skiers are looking for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their holidays, and additional operators could help by increasing capacity and, potentially, lowering fares.
Plenty still to do
There are still significant hurdles before these services become reality. Gemini will need regulatory approval, access to the Channel Tunnel, depot facilities and train paths, as well as suitable rolling stock.
The company says it hopes to begin operating by 2030, although that remains an ambitious timetable.
Whether Gemini succeeds or not, the announcement is another sign that cross-Channel rail is entering a new phase. Alongside other proposed operators, it suggests that the monopoly on international rail from Britain may finally be ending.
For skiers who want options to flying, that’s good news. More competition, more destinations and more seats can only make travelling to the mountains by train a more attractive alternative to flying.
