Key facts
- Gemini Trains plans to launch direct rail services between London and Cologne by 2030.
- The new route aims to cut travel time by up to two hours compared to current options.
- Gemini Trains is backed by a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund.
- The company intends to use Stratford International as its primary London hub.
- Gemini plans to lease eight electric trains, each capable of carrying over 550 passengers.
- Introductory one-way fares to Paris are expected to start around £59.
Gemini Trains, a British startup supported by a Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund, has announced its intention to launch direct rail services between London and Cologne by 2030. This move aims to break Eurostar's long-standing monopoly on cross-channel rail travel and significantly reduce journey times, with the London-Cologne route expected to take approximately four hours, shaving up to two hours off current travel durations.
The company plans to establish its main London hub at Stratford International, avoiding the congested St Pancras station. Services will also include stops at Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International in the UK. Beyond Cologne, Gemini has ambitions to run routes to Paris, including stops at Disneyland and Charles de Gaulle airport, and to Brussels, with potential future expansion to Frankfurt and Düsseldorf.
Gemini intends to lease eight electric trains, each capable of accommodating over 550 passengers, and aims to operate around 11 services daily by 2030, with plans for rapid expansion thereafter. The company plans to utilize dynamic pricing for tickets, offering introductory one-way fares to Paris from approximately £59 (€69). Standard class is set to feature enhanced amenities like comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, and mood lighting, while business class will include food service and privacy screens.
Adrian Quine, CEO of Gemini Trains, described the company as a "disruptor operator" focused on challenging the status quo by introducing new routes, stations, trains, interiors, and more affordable fares, encouraging a shift from air to rail travel. Eurostar, which has operated the Channel Tunnel's sole passenger service for over three decades, currently utilizes about half of its available track slots.
Gemini is not the only new entrant eyeing the market. Virgin Trains also aims to launch services by 2030, initially connecting London to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam, with further expansion into Germany and Switzerland planned. Italy's Trenitalia and Spanish startup Evolyn are also preparing to operate on the London to Paris line. In response, Eurostar is collaborating with German state railway Deutsche Bahn to connect the UK with German cities by the early 2030s.