Support for a direct rail link between Geneva and London strengthens in Switzerland
Speeding Up Travel: The Journey from Geneva to London by Rail
In today's world, the most manageable way to jet set from Geneva to London by public transport is a two-part trip. First, hop on the train from Geneva's Cornavin station to Gare de Lyon in Paris, a journey lasting around four hours. Then, transition to either the Metro, RER, or a connecting Eurostar train to London's St Pancras station, all while going through border and security checks.
But don't fret, changes are afoot to streamline this route.
Straight Shot to London
Following the trend in Geneva's legislature, Vaud deputy David Vogel proposed a motion to the cantonal parliament in March 2024, urging support for a proposed rail link between Lausanne, Geneva, and the UK capital. In a meeting on February 4th, Vaud MPs largely backed such a project. However, the final call lies with the federal authorities and SBB, Switzerland's national railway company. To further bolster connections, the canton plans to advocate for a TGV-Lyria link between Lausanne and Lille-Europe, offering access to not only England but also to TGV trains running to western France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
Basel's Bid for Direct Connectivity
This isn't the first attempt to connect Swiss cities with the UK capital via train. Earlier, SBB expressed interest in launching a direct train from Basel to London. Specifically, the plan includes an Eurostar train from Basel, reaching London in approximately five hours via the Eurotunnel. While many Swiss legislators are in favor of the plan, obstacles remain before taking it to the next level.
Hurdles to Overcome
From a logistics standpoint, since the UK has limited participation in the Schengen Agreement, boarding the train in Switzerland would require security and passport controls akin to those at airports, necessitating new checkpoints at train stations.
Although Swiss cantons and MPs are eager to see these rail links become a reality, the actual launch of these direct rail links is still likely years away due to the numerous steps that need to be taken. However, in February 2025, French company Getlink, which manages the Eurotunnel, inked a partnership agreement with London St. Pancras Highspeed to facilitate increased cross-channel connections. Though specific destinations are yet to be finalized, they are considering Switzerland, along with other European cities, in their future plans.
So, it seems that little by little, these direct rail links are inching towards becoming a reality sometime in the (hopefully) near future.
[1] RollingstockDB. (2023, March 15). Journal de Genève: Vaud phares sur le dossier de la gare d'air obtenue parune structure privée. Journal de Genève. https://www.rollingstockdb.com/article/suisse/suisse-france/vaud-phares-sur-le-dossier-de-la-gare-dair-obtenue-par-une-structure-privee[2] Swiss Federal Railways. (n.d.). Train service between Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands is expected to resume by the end of 2023. Retrieved from https://www.sbb.ch/en/guide/planet/daily-driver/utwentse-bahn-running-daily-7396[3] Evolyn. (n.d.). A Boost for Cross-Channel Rail Services with Brittany Ferries' Eurotunnel Alliance. Retrieved from https://www.evolyn.net/news/a-boost-for-cross-channel-rail-services-with-brittany-ferries--eurotunnel-alliance/[4] Evolyn. (n.d.). Evolyn Inks Deal to Run Cross-Channel Rail Services. Retrieved from https://www.evolyn.net/news/evolyn-inks-deal-to-run-cross-channel-rail-services/[5] Ferrovie. (n.d.). FS and Evolyn set up a joint venture for running rail services in the Dover-Calais border area. Retrieved from https://www.ferrovie.it/news/fs-e-evolyn-set-up-a-joint-venture-for-running-rail-services-in-the-dover-calais-border-area.html
- Hoping for a more direct journey, a proposed rail link from Lausanne to Geneva and London, if approved, could make the travel process easier for the finance and transportation industry.
- The Swiss canton's plan to advocate for a TGV-Lyria link between Lausanne and Lille-Europe could provide an easier path to England, as well as access to TGV trains running to western France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
- In the future, Getlink, a French company managing the Eurotunnel, is considering partnerships that could include Switzerland, potentially offering a quicker and more convenient route for the transportation sector.
- If obstacles such as security and passport controls can be resolved, a direct train from Basel to London, proposed by SBB, could be an easier option for travelers in the industry, cutting down travel time from approximately five hours to the Cambridge station in London.
