European Railroad Discussion > BBC: Plans for direct train to Berlin in new UK-Germany treaty

 Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said the rail link could offer an alternative to flying within the next decade."We're pioneering a new era of European rail connectivity and are determined to put Britain at the heart of a better-connected continent," she said."The Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and Checkpoint Charlie - in just a matter of years, rail passengers in the UK could be able to visit these iconic sights direct from the comfort of a train, thanks to a direct connection linking London and Berlin."This landmark agreement - part of a new treaty the prime minister [has signed] 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."
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Plans for direct train to Berlin in new UK-Germany treaty

I'd treat this with an enormous pinch of salt. I'm sure everyone is well intentioned, but there are some pretty enormous issues to overcome, which will need political capital to be expended. And with all the other issues the UK government is confronting, I can't see a train from London to Berlin being very high up the priority list.

If Eurostar equipment can run on DB rails, the route is in place, but it is slow.  Recently did Berlin to Hamburg (one afternoon), Hamburg to Cologne and Cologne to Brussels (better part of a day) and Brussels to Lomdon (3 hours) on Eurostar.

John

DocJohn Wrote:
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> If Eurostar equipment can run on DB rails, the
> route is in place, but it is slow.  Recently did
> Berlin to Hamburg (one afternoon), Hamburg to
> Cologne and Cologne to Brussels (better part of a
> day) and Brussels to Lomdon (3 hours) on
> Eurostar.
>
> John

None of the Eurostar fleet is equipped to operate under DB's 15kV AC electrification. I presume your Brussels to London train was from Amsterdam? Direct Brussels to London services only take two hours.

Thank you.  Only Brussels London, but there were delays.

john