THE Government has revealed plans for a new rail link between London and a new European country.
The UK and have joined forces to create a direct rail route to Berlin.
The new direct train would allow both Brits and Germans a way of getting to each country.
For Brits, this meant they could be exploring the Brandenburg Gate, the and Checkpoint Charlie “in just a matter of years”;, according to Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander.
The secretary added: “This landmark agreement – part of a new treaty the Prime Minister will sign with Chancellor Merz today – has the potential to fundamentally change how millions of people travel between our two countries, offering a faster, more convenient and significantly greener alternative to flying.
“A new task force will bring our nations closer together and create new opportunities for tourism, business and cultural exchange, building on a landmark deal we signed earlier this year to explore introducing direct services to .”;
The plans are also set to give the UK a big economic boost, with the creation of jobs and strengthened trade links.
Alexander added: “This is central to our Plan for Change – breaking down barriers, thinking boldly about the future, and making long-term decisions that better connect Britain to the world.
“Working with , we’re building bridges between our people and paving the way for a more sustainable, connected future.”;
It has not been made clear where the new train service would depart from in .
Currently, is the only London station that provides direct international passenger trains, including ones that connect to Germany – via a change in Brussels.
This is due to St Pancras being the terminus forthe only high-speed rail line in the UK that connects to the Channel Tunnel.
Berlin is known for its vibrant culture and top class beer, which includes Prater Garten, the city’s oldest beer garden having first opened in 1837.
Currently, St Pancras International is the only London station that provides direct international passenger train services, including those that connect (via a change in ) to Germany.
This is because St Pancras is the final station for High Speed 1 (HS1) – the only high-speed rail line in the UK that connects to the on the UK side.
However, Stratford International and Ebbsfleet International stations both sit on the HS1 line.
In theory, both of these places could handle international services.
However, the – which is the main operator through the Channel Tunnel – has not served these stations since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Eurostar has also announced plans to create direct trains from London to Frankfurt in Germany and Geneva in in the early 2030s – which would still likely depart from St Pancras International.
A new high-speed line known as High Speed 2 (HS2) is under construction in the UK.
Whilst the line will primarily be used for travel within the UK, such as linking London to the , there have been some discussions about a link between HS1 and HS2.
If this link were to be built, it could allow for direct international services from other parts of the UK via HS2.
The construction of HS2 is also behind schedule and the Government confirmed in June that the completion of the line would now be delayed beyond the target date of 2033.
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