Switzerland pledges to construct a direct rail passageway to London
Rewritten Article:
Ready to catch a ride to the bustling city of London from Geneva or Basel? While direct train links haven't been established yet, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is working tirelessly to make this a reality.
First things first, there are obstacles to overcome – adjustments at Swiss stations and modifications to routes need to be made. The big question is, what route will be taken?🤔
One possibility is to go through Brussels and Germany, or a new TGV section could be built between Lille and Reims in France. But Claudio Borsari, a transport specialist collaborating on this project, offers a more practical solution:
It's not just London that SBB's got its eyes on. The rail company also wants to create new lines within continental Europe, including night trains to Amsterdam, Hamburg, Vienna, and farther afield, to Copenhagen and Malmö. Daytime connections to Barcelona and Rome are also on the menu. 🍴
But let's talk challenges – as much as we'd like to zip through to London ASAP, the SBB knows it'll take time to overcome some roadblocks. Each city demands its own unique solutions, like putting more new trains into service and procuring fresh fleets to replace the old ones. The SBB is even considering deploying new high-speed trains in cross-border traffic.
Back to London – SBB's been working to establish direct train links from Switzerland, specifically Geneva and Basel, which has garnered political support. In February 2023, French company Getlink, which manages the Eurotunnel, signed a partnership agreement with London St. Pancras Highspeed, the operator of the railway on the British side of the Channel. The aim? To boost connections between Great Britain and continental Europe, with Switzerland among the targeted destinations.
Yann Leriche, Getlink's CEO, announced this exciting news, stating that plans are underway for a range of new destinations. On the Swiss side, officials and MPs are backing the project. On March 6th, 2023, SBB also publicly committed to not only broadening its international destinations but to London as well.
If all goes according to plan, London-bound trains could be operational from 2030. Cross your fingers, travel enthusiasts! For now, let's continue savoring the possibilities of what's to come. 🛤️🇬🇧️🇨🇭️
- The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is exploring a practical solution proposed by transport specialist Claudio Borsari, suggesting they would utilize the high-speed line from Charles-de-Gaulle airport and head south to Dijon and the Swiss border, offering a pragmatic approach to negotiating the challenges of establishing direct trains to London.
- In an effort to expand its reach beyond Switzerland, SBB is not only considering lines within continental Europe but also night trains to Amsterdam, Hamburg, Vienna, Copenhagen, and Malmo, as well as daytime connections to Barcelona and Rome for diversification within the transportation industry.
- The partnership between French company Getlink and London St. Pancras Highspeed is a significant development towards boosting connections between Great Britain and continental Europe, including Switzerland, with a focus on expanding financial opportunities within the transportation industry.
- With political support and industry partnerships in place, the SBB's goal of operational London-bound trains by 2030 could be a great reality for travelers, injecting new life into the transportation sector and opening up new possibilities for city-to-city travel across Europe.
