Is it correct that there is a new London-Lyon Eurostar link planned?
It is thought that a recent agreement could see the creation of more direct international train routes
A direct train link would mean journey times from Lyon to London St. Pancras could be much faster and easier
Elena Dijour/Shutterstock
French media reports that train passengers may soon be able to take a direct train from London to Lyon, without having to change stations or trains, or pass through Paris or Lille - however, there has been no official confirmation that this is currently being considered.
The reports come after Eurotunnel and London St. Pancras Highspeed (LSPH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at developing more high-speed rail links between the UK and Europe.
LSPH runs the high-speed line in the UK, GetLink, which owns Eurotunnel, is the channel tunnel operator.
Read also: More trains and routes linking UK to France (and other European countries) expected under new agreement
The agreement was signed in late February, after a study found that London's St Pancras station has the capacity to accommodate an additional 5,000 passengers per hour in comparison to current levels.
This has been considered enough for the companies to look to new destinations for Eurostar, with priority given to low-carbon journeys. London St. Pancras is the only international rail station in the UK.
“Eurostar continued its strong growth in 2024, breaking its own previous passenger records…Looking ahead, this is further proof of the huge demand for international rail…travel”, said Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave in a statement in January this year.
“Eurostar is targeting growth to 30 million passengers and investing in up to 50 new trains as a direct result, with the aim of delivering a unique and exceptional service long into the future.”
LSPH chief executive Robert Sinclair said in February that the two companies (LSPH and Getlink) will “actively work together to encourage new and existing train operators to expand capacity and launch new destinations unlocking the potential of a fully connected Europe.”
Similarly, Alain Krakovitch, chairman of the Eurostar Group, and director of TGV-Intercités, SNCF Voyageurs, said: “With its many customer services, Eurostar proves that it is constantly thinking about how to meet their needs and offer ever more innovative and comfortable services and commercial offers.”
London-Lyon?
Swiss Federal Railways, the national railway company of Switzerland, said in a press release it is looking into the possibility of serving destinations such as London. This is thought to have prompted the report of a London to Lyon link, given Lyon is just some 70 miles from Geneva.
In total there are currently around 50 flights a day from Zurich, Basel and Geneva to London.
Getlink hopes that proposed new international services will run by 2029, although this has yet to be confirmed.
Read also: Cheaper but slower… €10 train fare for Paris to Brussels route
