Strengthened support for the Geneva-to-London direct rail connection emerges from Switzerland's authorities.
Updated and Revised Article:
Catching a ride from Geneva to the bustling city of London ain't exactly a breeze when it comes to public transport, but it's doable. You'll need to hop on a train from Geneva's Cornavin station to Gare de Lyon in Paris, which takes about four hours. From there, jump on the Metro or RER, then boards a connecting Eurostar train to London's St Pancras station after clearing border and security checks. It's a journey, but plans are afoot to streamline this process.
However, a direct rail link from Geneva to the British capital? Sounds like something folks in Vaud canton have been dreaming about. In March 2024, Vaud deputy David Vogel presented a motion to the cantonal parliament for support in establishing a TGV-Lyria link between Lausanne, Geneva, and London. While largely supported by Vaud MPs, the decision ultimately lies with the federal authorities and the Swiss national railway company, SBB.
The idea of a direct link between Swiss cities and London isn't a new one. Earlier, the SBB considered launching a train from Basel to London, reaching the UK capital in about five hours via the Eurotunnel. Politicians are generally in favor of the plan, but there are obstacles to overcome before taking it to the next level.
Logistically speaking, since the UK is no longer part of the EU and only participates in the Schengen Agreement to a limited extent, boarding the train in Switzerland would involve both security and passport controls similar to those at airports. This would necessitate new checkpoints at train stations.
Despite the hurdles, the canton advocates for the creation of a TGV-Lyria link between Lausanne and Lille-Europe, which would offer Advantages of easy connections to the UK and West France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
In February 2025, French company Getlink, which manages the Eurotunnel, signed a partnership agreement with London's St. Pancras Highspeed. While the plans have not been finalized, they aim for new connections, including Switzerland, according to Yann Leriche, Getlink's CEO.
So while the introduction of a direct rail link between Geneva and London remains a work in progress, it seems little by little, these plans are moving forward, hopefully, in the not-too-distant future.
[1] SBB plans for trains to London (Swissinfo.ch, 2022)[3] Eurostar competitors eye Swiss cities (Railway Gazette International, 2023)[5] High-speed rail developments to shape Europe's future (Rail Technology Magazine, 2024)
- Despite passport control obstacles due to the UK's limited participation in the Schengen Agreement, the canton of Vaud is hoping for a TGV-Lyria link between Lausanne and Lille-Europe, which could potentially offer easy connections to the UK and West France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.
- The idea of a direct link between Swiss cities and London, such as a TGV-Lyria link, isn't necessarily new, as the Swiss national railway company (SBB) previously considered launching a train from Basel to London.
- In February 2025, French company Getlink, which manages the Eurotunnel, signed a partnership agreement with London's St. Pancras Highspeed, aiming for new connections, including Switzerland, according to Yann Leriche, Getlink's CEO.
- The transport industry and finance sectors might see significant changes with the development of high-speed rail connections, such as the potential direct link between Geneva and London, shaping Europe's future, as reported by Rail Technology Magazine in 2024.
