Eurostar to Launch Direct Train Service from London to Geneva

10th June 2025

Last modified on June 14th, 2025

The journey will take five hours and 20 minutes and should begin in the early 2030s.

Eurostar currently runs a service to the French Alps in the ski season, and the new service will give access to resorts in Switzerland and in France.

There is no word on prices or the timetable.

Currently the same journey takes about 7.5 hours by train, with a transfer in Paris.

A flight to Geneva from London takes about one hour and 40 minutes.

Eurostar has announced it is to build a new fleet of up to 50 trains, costing around £1.7bn, and some will be used on the new Geneva route.

“A new golden age of international sustainable travel is here,” said chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave, adding that customers were “wanting to go further by rail than ever before”.

Eurostar. Image © PlanetSKI

Swiss Federal Railways, SBB, the national rail company of Switzerland, said it welcomed the plan.

“News about plans for more direct services to the Alps is always good to hear,” said Daniel Elkan from the web site, Snow Carbon, that specialises in train travel to the mountains.

“But for this to be a success, Eurostar needs to ensure that onward connections to ski resorts have been fully thought through and consult with the travel industry – something that it has often failed to do in the past.

“Plus, for these longer journeys, services on board become even more important.

“For example, Eurostar took all the joy out of its cafe bars, splitting them in two and turning them into dull queue-up-and-return to your seat overpriced counters.

“The cafe bar should be a place to hang out and enjoy a great menu and great views.

“I hope the new trains reflect the importance of the traveller experience.”

Eurostar’s announcement came as the firm reported a 5% boost in passengers in 2024 compared with the previous year.

It saw a record 19.5 million passengers last year across all of its services.

The firm is also planning for the proposed new fleet to service a direct line to Geneva from both Amsterdam and Brussels.

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